Translucency, body contact, and production complexity: Effects on the acquisition of American Sign Language signs by aphasic adults.
Item
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Title
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Translucency, body contact, and production complexity: Effects on the acquisition of American Sign Language signs by aphasic adults.
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Identifier
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AAI9000034
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identifier
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9000034
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Creator
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Hughes-Wheatland, Roxanne.
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Contributor
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Adviser: James R. Tweedy
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Date
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1989
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Psychobiology | Biology, Neuroscience | Speech Communication
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Abstract
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The present study examined how the three features translucency, body contact, and production complexity, influenced acquisition and recall of 24 American Sign Language (ASL) signs in eight aphasic (males = 5, females = 3) and six normal (males = 3, females = 3) adult subjects. All of the subjects were right handed.;Gestural and language pretests were administered to all of the aphasic subjects prior to sign training. All subjects were trained to produce the 24 ASL signs using the procedure of handshaping and physical guidance. Twelve signs were trained during each of two training sessions. Evaluations were administered immediately following training (initial tests), at the end of each training session (probe 1), and one week following training (probe 2).;Aphasics were shown to be impaired in the acquisition and recall of ASL signs on the initial tests and probe 1, however, in comparison to the normal controls, the aphasics' probe 2 recall performances were not significantly impaired. In terms of the three sign features examined, the results revealed that among aphasics production complexity was more important for sign acquisition, and translucency was more important for sign recall. Body contact, although an important feature for short-term sign recall by both subject groups, was also important for long-term recall among the normal controls. The results are best interpreted as supporting an apraxia based neuropsychological theory of gesture production impairment.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
