Word order preference in sign influences speech in hearing bimodal bilinguals but not vice versa: Evidence from behavior and eye-gaze

Abstract We investigated cross-modal influences between speech and sign in hearing bimodal bilinguals, proficient a spoken language, its consequences on visual attention during message preparation using eye-tracking. focused spatial expressions which languages, unlike have modality-driven preference to mention grounds (big objects) prior figures (smaller objects). compared bilinguals’ Dutch Sign Language (N = 18) those of their non-signing ( N 20) deaf signing peers 18). In speech, bilinguals expressed more ground-first descriptions fixated than non-signers, showing influence from sign. sign, they used as many signers equally often, demonstrating no speech. Cross-linguistic word order appears be one-directional modulated by differences.