Where do Features Come from? Evidence from Sign Language

Abstract

The paper considers sign language phonological features in the context of the basic question about the origin of features. Based on earlier work by Stokoe (1960) and others, I show that signs are comprised of distinctive features which can be discretely listed and which are organized hierarchically (Sandler 1989). In this way sign language feature systems are similar to those of spoken language. However, the inventory of features, similar across sign languages, is necessarily completely different from that of spoken languages, calling into the question claims about innateness for either modality. Moreover, research on a new and initially isolated sign language, Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language, has shown that phonological structure in sign language emerges gradually (Sandler, Aronoff et al 2011), and therefore cannot be assumed to be innate in sign languages. New research into foreign accent in sign language reveals the existence of phonetic features that are not necessarily distinctive and can distinguish one sign language from another. Taken together, the findings suggest that physiological, cognitive, and cultural pressures contribute to the emergence of features.

Keywords

• sign language
• phonological features
• language emergence
• sign language foreign accent