Iconicity in language processing: What signed languages reveal
نویسندگان
چکیده
The visual/gestural modality of signed languages allows meaningful form/meaning mappings (iconicity) across numerous basic concepts. Some previous studies show that iconicity affects sign language processing. However work to date does not provide a clear answer about the mechanisms driving such an effect. In three experiments we found differential effects of iconicity in British Sign Language such that iconicity facilitates decisions on a meaningrelated task (for phonological decisions about features motivated by iconicity), but slows responses when the task is not related to meaning (decisions about unmotivated features for the same signs). Further in a language production task, picture naming is facilitated for iconic signs. The findings suggest that iconic signs activate meaning representations more quickly than non-iconic signs regardless of the task (meaning-based or not) for both comprehension and production, whereby decisions related to that meaning are aided, but decisions not related to the meaning are hindered.
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