Interactional Infrastructure across Modalities: A Comparison of Repair Initiators and Continuers in British Sign Language and British English
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| Title: | Interactional Infrastructure across Modalities: A Comparison of Repair Initiators and Continuers in British Sign Language and British English |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Hannah Lutzenberger, Lierin de Wael, Rehana Omardeen, Mark Dingemanse |
| Source: | Sign Language Studies. 2024 24(3):548-581. |
| Availability: | Gallaudet University Press. 800 Florida Avenue NE, Denison House, Washington, DC 20002-3695. Tel: 202-651-5488; Fax: 202-651-5489; Web site: https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Journals/Sign-Language-Studies |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 34 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Learning Modalities, Sign Language, English, Expressive Language, Language Usage, Interaction, Nonverbal Communication, Communication Research, Cues, Visual Aids, Verbal Communication, Correlation, Role Theory, Foreign Countries, Deafness |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom |
| DOI: | 10.1353/sls.2024.a928056 |
| ISSN: | 0302-1475 1533-6263 |
| Abstract: | Minimal expressions are at the heart of interaction: Interjections like "Huh?" and "Mhm" keep conversations flowing by establishing and reinforcing intersubjectivity among interlocutors. Crosslinguistic research has identified that similar interactional pressures can yield structurally similar words (e.g., to initiate repair across languages). While crosslinguistic comparisons that include signed languages remain uncommon, recent work has revealed similarities in discourse management strategies among signers and speakers that share much of their cultural background. This study contributes a crossmodal comparison of repair initiators and continuers in speakers of English and signers of British Sign Language (BSL). We combine qualitative and quantitative analyses of data from sixteen English speakers and sixteen BSL signers, resulting in the following: First, the interactional infrastructure drawn upon by speakers and signers overwhelmingly relies on behaviors of the head, face, and body; these are used alone or sometimes in combination with verbal elements (i.e., spoken words or manual signs), while verbal strategies alone are rare. Second, discourse management strategies are remarkably similar in form across the two languages: A held eye gaze or "freeze-look" is the predominant repair initiator and head nodding the main continuer. These results suggest a modality-agnostic preference for visual strategies that do not occupy the primary articulators, one that we propose is founded in recipiency; people maintain the flow of communication following principles of minimal effort and minimal interruption. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1427576 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Minimal expressions are at the heart of interaction: Interjections like "Huh?" and "Mhm" keep conversations flowing by establishing and reinforcing intersubjectivity among interlocutors. Crosslinguistic research has identified that similar interactional pressures can yield structurally similar words (e.g., to initiate repair across languages). While crosslinguistic comparisons that include signed languages remain uncommon, recent work has revealed similarities in discourse management strategies among signers and speakers that share much of their cultural background. This study contributes a crossmodal comparison of repair initiators and continuers in speakers of English and signers of British Sign Language (BSL). We combine qualitative and quantitative analyses of data from sixteen English speakers and sixteen BSL signers, resulting in the following: First, the interactional infrastructure drawn upon by speakers and signers overwhelmingly relies on behaviors of the head, face, and body; these are used alone or sometimes in combination with verbal elements (i.e., spoken words or manual signs), while verbal strategies alone are rare. Second, discourse management strategies are remarkably similar in form across the two languages: A held eye gaze or "freeze-look" is the predominant repair initiator and head nodding the main continuer. These results suggest a modality-agnostic preference for visual strategies that do not occupy the primary articulators, one that we propose is founded in recipiency; people maintain the flow of communication following principles of minimal effort and minimal interruption. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0302-1475 1533-6263 |
| DOI: | 10.1353/sls.2024.a928056 |
