Fingerspelling and Its Role in Translanguaging
Fingerspelling is a critical component of many sign languages. This manual representation of orthographic code is one key way in which signers engage in translanguaging, drawing from all of their linguistic and semiotic resources to support communication. Translanguaging in bimodal bilinguals is uni...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Languages |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/7/4/278 |
| _version_ | 1797456712696856576 |
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| author | Brittany Lee Kristen Secora |
| author_facet | Brittany Lee Kristen Secora |
| author_sort | Brittany Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fingerspelling is a critical component of many sign languages. This manual representation of orthographic code is one key way in which signers engage in translanguaging, drawing from all of their linguistic and semiotic resources to support communication. Translanguaging in bimodal bilinguals is unique because it involves drawing from languages in different modalities, namely a signed language like American Sign Language and a spoken language like English (or its written form). Fingerspelling can be seen as a unique product of the unified linguistic system that translanguaging theories purport, as it blends features of both sign and print. The goals of this paper are twofold: to integrate existing research on fingerspelling in order to characterize it as a cognitive-linguistic phenomenon and to discuss the role of fingerspelling in translanguaging and communication. We will first review and synthesize research from linguistics and cognitive neuroscience to summarize our current understanding of fingerspelling, its production, comprehension, and acquisition. We will then discuss how fingerspelling relates to translanguaging theories and how it can be incorporated into translanguaging practices to support literacy and other communication goals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:11:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ec9d1c8def24578bec92c965dd96a21 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-471X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:11:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Languages |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ec9d1c8def24578bec92c965dd96a212023-11-24T16:10:04ZengMDPI AGLanguages2226-471X2022-11-017427810.3390/languages7040278Fingerspelling and Its Role in TranslanguagingBrittany Lee0Kristen Secora1Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USATheory and Practice in Teacher Education, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996, USAFingerspelling is a critical component of many sign languages. This manual representation of orthographic code is one key way in which signers engage in translanguaging, drawing from all of their linguistic and semiotic resources to support communication. Translanguaging in bimodal bilinguals is unique because it involves drawing from languages in different modalities, namely a signed language like American Sign Language and a spoken language like English (or its written form). Fingerspelling can be seen as a unique product of the unified linguistic system that translanguaging theories purport, as it blends features of both sign and print. The goals of this paper are twofold: to integrate existing research on fingerspelling in order to characterize it as a cognitive-linguistic phenomenon and to discuss the role of fingerspelling in translanguaging and communication. We will first review and synthesize research from linguistics and cognitive neuroscience to summarize our current understanding of fingerspelling, its production, comprehension, and acquisition. We will then discuss how fingerspelling relates to translanguaging theories and how it can be incorporated into translanguaging practices to support literacy and other communication goals.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/7/4/278fingerspellingAmerican Sign Languagetranslanguagingdeaf readersbimodal bilingualism |
| spellingShingle | Brittany Lee Kristen Secora Fingerspelling and Its Role in Translanguaging Languages fingerspelling American Sign Language translanguaging deaf readers bimodal bilingualism |
| title | Fingerspelling and Its Role in Translanguaging |
| title_full | Fingerspelling and Its Role in Translanguaging |
| title_fullStr | Fingerspelling and Its Role in Translanguaging |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fingerspelling and Its Role in Translanguaging |
| title_short | Fingerspelling and Its Role in Translanguaging |
| title_sort | fingerspelling and its role in translanguaging |
| topic | fingerspelling American Sign Language translanguaging deaf readers bimodal bilingualism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/7/4/278 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brittanylee fingerspellinganditsroleintranslanguaging AT kristensecora fingerspellinganditsroleintranslanguaging |