Wilbur R B, Petersen L
Purdue University, W. Lafayctte, IN 47907-1353, USA.
Lang Speech. 1997 Jan-Mar;40 ( Pt 1):63-90. doi: 10.1177/002383099704000104.
A recurrent question raised by the study of signed languages concerns the linguistic effect of the modality in which the language is produced. Is the modality difference between speech and sign reflected merely in the nature of the phonetic features that map into production and perception, or is it the case that there might be higher level organizational differences between the two linguistic modalities? The present study addresses the nature of the modality effect inside the syllable, namely whether syllables in ASL display evidence of segmental composition. Data from backwards signing are presented to demonstrate that the phonological representations that must be available to signers when they perform backwards signing tasks cannot be adequately represented with the current models that posit segmental composition of ASL syllables. Instead, it is argued that it is sufficient to make reference to distinctive features, in syllable initial and syllable final positions, and that there is no support for any further internal segmental divisions.
手语研究中反复出现的一个问题涉及语言产生方式的语言效应。言语和手语之间的方式差异仅仅反映在映射到产生和感知的语音特征的性质上，还是这两种语言方式之间可能存在更高层次的组织差异？本研究探讨了音节内部方式效应的本质，即美国手语中的音节是否显示出音段组成的证据。呈现了来自倒序手语的数据，以证明手语者在执行倒序手语任务时必须具备的音系表征，无法用当前假定美国手语音节有音段组成的模型来充分表示。相反，有人认为，在音节开头和音节结尾位置提及区别特征就足够了，而且没有证据支持任何进一步的内部音段划分。
