“Sign exchanges”: characterization of phonological processes occurred during the Libras acquisition by deaf preschoolers

Guimarães, Cristhiane Ferreira; Campello, Ana Regina e Souza

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Audiology - Communication Research

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Original Article • Audiol., Commun. Res. 23 • 2018 • https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-6431-2017-1922 copy

“Sign exchanges”: characterization of phonological processes occurred during the Libras acquisition by deaf preschoolers

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To describe the characteristics of the phonological processes found in deaf preschoolers’ sign language.

Methods

Fifteen deaf children aged 3 to 7 years participated in the study. Data collection was conducted by filming the application of the FONOLIBRAS test, which requires participants to name 50 figures in Libras (Brazilian sign language). Transcription was performed on SignWriting; Libras signals with phonological processes were classified by type, parameter, and hand(s) involved. Finally, the data received statistical treatment.

Results

All deaf children showed signs of linguistic variation in relation to the adult pattern, that is, phonological processes, confirming that these processes are a natural phenomenon of child development in sign languages as in spoken languages. The most frequent process was assimilation, while replacement, epenthesis, elision, and metathesis were also present. The hand configuration parameter was the most affected. The occurrence was greater in the passive hand.

Conclusion

As phonological processes are part of the acquisition of sign languages and can be naturally suppressed or not, these phenomena deserve the attention of professionals who work in the area of deafness in order to optimize the communication development of users of these languages.

Keywords:
Language development; Phonetics; Deafness

Subject	Class	Gender	Age	Number of Libras signs produced	Number of signs with phonological process(es)	Percentage of signs with phonological process(es) (%)
Student 1	EI 3A	F	3	14	9	64.29
Student 2	EI 3A	F	3	40	14	35.00
Student 3	EI 3A	F	3	24	10	41.67
Student 4	EI 3B	F	4	38	14	36.84
Student 5	EI 3B	M	3	21	5	23.81
Student 6	EI 4	F	5	30	6	20.00
Student 7	EI 5A	F	5	47	7	14.89
Student 8	EI 5A	M	7	8	2	25.00
Student 9	EI 5A	F	6	33	12	36.36
Student 10	EI 5A	M	7	40	9	22.50
Student 11	EI 5B	F	7	28	19	67.86
Student 12	EI 5B	M	6	40	14	35.00
Student 13	EI 5B	M	6	30	11	36.67
Student 14	EI 5B	M	6	39	9	23.08
Student 15	EI 5B	F	6	20	10	50.00

Phonological processes in the sign “HORSE”

Epenthesis of number of hands, Assimilation of hand configuration, point of articulation, movement and orientation
Phonological processes in the sign “SHIRT”

Substitution of hand configuration Epenthesis of number of hands Assimilation of hand configuration, point of articulation, movement and orientation

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[1] Conflict of interests: No.

(1) Substitution process	(a) Substitution: content exchange of one or more sign parameters
	Ex.: GREEN

	(substitution of point of articulation)
(2) Structural modifier process	(a) Epenthesis: segment addition to the sign.
	Ex.: WALK/GO

	(epenthesis of number of hands, hand configuration, point of articulation and orientation)
	(b) Elision: omission of sign segment.
	Ex.: HAND

	(elision of movement)
	(c) Metathesis: inversion of sign segments.
	Ex.: FLIP FLOP

	(metathesis of hand configuration)
(3) Context-sensitive process	(a) Assimilation: segment incorporation into the sign, influenced by adjacent structures.
	Ex.: BANANA

	(assimilation of hand configuration)