Linguistics ETDs

Publication Date

12-1-2012

Abstract

Fingerspelling is a category of American Sign Language (ASL) signs that are signed sequentially as an alphabetic representation. The present study proposes to examine the coarticulation and feature-spreading characteristics of fingerspelling. A preliminary study identified feature categories to be examined. In keeping with these results and feature categories, three hypotheses were constructed: (1) anticipatory effects are more common than perseverative effects, (2) coarticulation is most prevalent word medially, rather than word initially or word finally, and (3) larger articulators show spreading more often than smaller articulators and spread across multiple handshapes. To test these hypotheses, five fluent ASL fingerspellers were recorded and the data was examined in reference to these three hypotheses. After analysis of this data, the first hypothesis was found to be supported. The second hypothesis was strengthened by this data. The third hypothesis developed from a simple division of large articulators versus small articulators into a complex hierarchy of features. These findings are discussed in terms of frequency patterns, physiological constraints, and spoken coarticulation models.

Language

English

Keywords

American Sign Language, fingerspelling, coarticulation, phonology, sign language, coarticulation model, handshape, reduction

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Linguistics

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Department of Linguistics

First Committee Member (Chair)

Wilcox, Sherman

Second Committee Member

Wilcox, Phyllis Perrin

Comments

Submitted by csc@unm.edu (csc@unm.edu) on 2012-11-07T04:29:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Channer Thesis Submission 6 Nov 12.pdf: 347967 bytes, checksum: 72a5ab6b2032786d08a7441de33686cb (MD5), Approved for entry into archive by Doug Weintraub(dwein@unm.edu) on 2013-01-30T22:03:32Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Channer Thesis Submission 6 Nov 12.pdf: 347967 bytes, checksum: 72a5ab6b2032786d08a7441de33686cb (MD5), Made available in DSpace on 2013-01-30T22:03:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Channer Thesis Submission 6 Nov 12.pdf: 347967 bytes, checksum: 72a5ab6b2032786d08a7441de33686cb (MD5)

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