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Article published In:
Sign Language & Linguistics
Vol. 24:1 (2021) ► pp.36–62

Use and acquisition of mouth actions in L2 sign language learners

A corpus-based approach

| Stockholm University
| Stockholm University

This article deals with L2 acquisition of a sign language, examining in particular the use and acquisition of non-manual mouth actions performed by L2 learners of Swedish Sign Language. Based on longitudinal data from an L2 learner corpus, we describe the distribution, frequency, and spreading patterns of mouth actions in sixteen L2 learners at two time points. The data are compared with nine signers of an L1 control group.

The results reveal some differences in the use of mouth actions between the groups. The results are specifically related to the category of mouthing borrowed from spoken Swedish. L2 signers show an increased use of mouthing compared to L1 signers. Conversely, L1 signers exhibit an increased use of reduced mouthing compared with L2 signers. We also observe an increase of adverbial mouth gestures within the L2 group. The results are discussed in relation to previous findings, and within the framework of cross-linguistic influence.

Keywords: mouth actions, second language acquisition, corpus-based study, Swedish Sign Language
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1The linguistic status of mouth actions in sign languages
    • 1.2The status of research on L2 sign languages and mouth actions
    • 1.3The present study
  • 2.Data and method
  • 2.1Participants
    • 2.2Coding and analysis
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1Distribution of mouth actions
    • 3.2Distribution of mouth actions by L2 learners and L1 signers – discourse types
    • 3.3Individual variation in the frequency and distribution of mouth actions
    • 3.4Spreading of mouth actions
    • 3.5Grammatical class
  • 4.Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Note
  • References
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Published online: 8 December 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sll.19003.mes
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