Research Project:
Bimodal Bilingualism
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For speech-sign
bilinguals, the articulators
do not compete
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The vast majority of bilingual studies involve two spoken languages. Such "unimodal" bilingualism automatically entails a severe production constraint because one cannot physically produce two spoken words or phrases at the same time. In addition, for unimodal bilinguals both languages are perceived by the same sensory system (audition), whereas for bimodal (speech-sign) bilinguals one language is perceived auditorily and the other is perceived visually. This project investigates the consequences of these sensory-motoric differences in language modality for the psycholinguistics of bilingualism, for the features of co-speech gesture, and for the nature of the bilingual brain. We ask the following questions:
- What are the ramifications of removing constraints on simultaneous articulation?
- Do bimodal bilinguals code-switch?
- Does bimodal bilingualism affect co-speech gesture?
- How do bimodal bilinguals control sign language production while speaking?
- What is the nature of the bimodal bilingual brain?
Funding:
This research is supported by the National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (R01 HD047736).
Selected Publications:
- Emmorey, K., Borinstein, H.B., Thompson, R., & Gollan, T.H. (2008). Bimodal bilingualism. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 11(1), 43-61.
- Emmorey, K., & McCullough, S. (in press). The bimodal brain: Effects of sign language experience. Brain and Language. read
- Casey, S., & Emmorey, K. (in press). Co-speech gesture in bimodal bilinguals. Language and Cognitive Processes. read
- Pyers, J. & Emmorey, K. (in press). The face of bimodal bilingualism: ASL grammatical facial expressions are produced when bilinguals speak to English monolinguals. Psychological Science. read
- Emmorey, K., Borinstein, H.B., Thompson, R. (2005). Bimodal bilingualism: Code-blending between spoken English and American Sign Language. In J. Cohen, K. McAlister, K. Rolstad, & J. MacSwan (Eds), Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Bilingualism. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press. read
- Emmorey, K., Grabowski, TJ., McCullough, S., Ponto, L., Hichwa, R., & Damasio, H. (2005). The neural correlates of spatial language in English and American Sign Language: A PET study with hearing bilinguals. NeuroImage, 24, 832-840. read
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