Fingerspelling and Its Role in Translanguaging

Fingerspelling is a critical component of many sign languages. This manual representation orthographic code one key way in which signers engage translanguaging, drawing from all their linguistic and semiotic resources to support communication. Translanguaging bimodal bilinguals unique because it involves languages different modalities, namely signed language like American Sign Language spoken English (or its written form). can be seen as product the unified system that translanguaging theories purport, blends features both print. The goals this paper are twofold: integrate existing research on fingerspelling order characterize cognitive-linguistic phenomenon discuss role We will first review synthesize linguistics cognitive neuroscience summarize our current understanding fingerspelling, production, comprehension, acquisition. then how relates incorporated into practices literacy other communication goals.