Signs of Globalization: ASL Influence in the Lexicon of New Zealand Sign Language

Lexical variation and change is prevalent in the short history of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) current context globalized flows communication we observe growing use ASL-concordant variants that land via other signed languages, online deaf media, international interaction. Results from a variant-pair preference task show no significant effect demographic characteristics on variant use, suggesting their not socially marked. We effects lexical borrowing at levels phonology (e.g., handshape types), morphology classifier handshapes, modified verbs) discourse markers. In parallel with studies Americanization English, find established tend to be perceived as local origin, new/traditional are always seen exact synonyms or replacements, but may ascribed pragmatic, semantic, stylistic distinctions. this way, global features serve elaborate NZSL repertoires rather than being experienced Americanization.