Sign Language Colloquium 30-01-2014

Use of space in six L2 learners of a signed language

Eveline Boers-Visker Beppie van den Bogaerde

Utrecht University of Applied Sciences HU

SLA-research Focus on spoken languages

What about sign languages?

Teaching SL as a second language

Teaching SL as a second language

David Quinto-Pozos (2011): “it seems to be the case that, over the years, there has not been substantial dialogue between ASL teaching professionals and educators and researchers from other foreign language units. There are few journal articles that can be found concerning ASL pedagogy, models and theories of second language acquisition (SLA) and language teaching have primarily focused on the teaching of spoken and written languages” (p.138)

We do not know a lot about the interlanguages in second language learners of SL

Knowledge about interlanguages helps us in developing our Sign Language curricula

Utrecht University of Applied Sciences: training for

Deaf Studies Research Groep: Academy Team CEFR - Research Unit CEFR (HU)

Cohort study 2009 -2016

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Research question

Can we see a pattern in the acquisition of different aspects of use of space by adult SL2 learners?

Why ‘sign space’?

Essentially all of linguistic expression in sign languages depends on the use of space (Perniss, 2012)

Source: De Nederlandse Gebarentaal, Koenen et al. (1993)

In order to realise grammatical function you have to assign a locus for each referent

Selecting participants cohort study

cohort 09-10

“old” curriculum focus: correct grammatical language use

cohort 10-11

“new” curriculum, change of didactic approach

communicative, action-oriented approach

cohort 11-12

“new” curriculum, change of didactic approach, adapted

adaption: reintroduction grammar in third period year 1

cohort 12-13

new curriculum balanced mix

cohort 09-10 cohort 1

cohort 10-11 cohort 2

cohort 11-12 cohort 3

123rf.com

Method and procedures

Interview every 10 weeks

Topics:

work, study, family, hobbies

Selection of 6 participants for this presentation

Recordings of

• year 1 - period 3

• year 2 - period 3

Source: www.hu.nl

Aspects of use of space (1)

INDEX

locative sign

verb Sources: www.DoofCentraal.nl, www.vimeo.com, www.nederlandsgebarencentrum.nl

FIRE

FIND

Aspects of use of space (2)

Classifier (WORLD LEADERS 1class come)

Eye gaze: “he lies” (LIE + eye gaze)

1,2,3… Source: www.DoofCentraal.nl

POWERFULL + eye gaze

B-class car

Transcription and analyses

Results year 1

Orange = uncertain status of use of space Green = clear use of space

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Results year 2

Orange = uncertain status of use of space Green = clear use of space

05

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Conclusions

Per cohort we see individual differences

in cohort 3 fewer

Per year we see increase in variety of spatial use in all cohorts , in all students

In first year, we see more variety in use of space as follows: cohort 1 < cohort 2 < cohort 3

Conclusions

• Cohort 3 (new didactic approach) shows most variety in first year (5 different ways to use space)

• INDEX and Locative signs seem to be used the earliest/the most

• No discernable pattern, but students may initially have preference for either INDEX or Locative signs.

Acknowledgements

• Participants

• Researchers CEFR Research group Deaf Studies

Lieke Kielstra Miranda Deijn

References

Perniss, P. M. (2012). Use of sign space. In R. Pfau, M. Steinbach, & B. Woll (Eds.), Sign Language: an International Handbook (pp. 412-431). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.