Matching Items (6)
The neurobiology of sentence comprehension: an fMRI study of late American Sign Language acquisition
Description
Language acquisition is a phenomenon we all experience, and though it is well studied many questions remain regarding the neural bases of language. Whether a hearing speaker or Deaf signer, spoken and signed language acquisition (with eventual proficiency) develop similarly and share common neural networks. While signed language and spoken language engage completely different sensory modalities (visual-manual versus the more common auditory-oromotor) both languages share grammatical structures and contain syntactic intricacies innate to all languages. Thus, studies of multi-modal bilingualism (e.g. a native English speaker learning American Sign Language) can lead to a better understanding of the neurobiology of second language acquisition, and of language more broadly. For example, can the well-developed visual-spatial processing networks in English speakers support grammatical processing in sign language, as it relies heavily on location and movement? The present study furthers the understanding of the neural correlates of second language acquisition by studying late L2 normal hearing learners of American Sign Language (ASL). Twenty English speaking ASU students enrolled in advanced American Sign Language coursework participated in our functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) study. The aim was to identify the brain networks engaged in syntactic processing of ASL sentences in late L2 ASL learners. While many studies have addressed the neurobiology of acquiring a second spoken language, no previous study to our knowledge has examined the brain networks supporting syntactic processing in bimodal bilinguals. We examined the brain networks engaged while perceiving ASL sentences compared to ASL word lists, as well as written English sentences and word lists. We hypothesized that our findings in late bimodal bilinguals would largely coincide with the unimodal bilingual literature, but with a few notable differences including additional attention networks being engaged by ASL processing. Our results suggest that there is a high degree of overlap in sentence processing networks for ASL and English. There also are important differences in regards to the recruitment of speech comprehension, visual-spatial and domain-general brain networks. Our findings suggest that well-known sentence comprehension and syntactic processing regions for spoken languages are flexible and modality-independent.
ContributorsMickelsen, Soren Brooks (Co-author) / Johnson, Lisa (Co-author) / Rogalsky, Corianne (Thesis director) / Azuma, Tamiko (Committee member) / Howard, Pamela (Committee member) / Department of Speech and Hearing Science (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
For this project the main goal was to create a curriculum aimed at fourth grade students. This curriculum was intended to introduce them to different forms of communication, and teach them the skills, attitudes, behavior, and knowledge that would enable them to be able to communicate and interact better with a wide range of people with different types of communication styles. American Sign Language was used for this curriculum as an example of an alternative communication method. The project included developing teaching materials and lessons which made up the curriculum, after that this curriculum was implemented with 11 fourth grade students.
ContributorsStosz, Julia Taylor (Author) / Jordan, Michelle (Thesis director) / Howard, Pamela (Committee member) / Boxwell, Pamela (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Speech and Hearing Science (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
As the economy becomes more technologically driven the need for people in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) fields also increases. STEM fields have been overrun with white males. Congress has been trying to promote minority groups in these fields for thirty years with little success. One of the largest underrepresented groups is individuals with disabilities. This thesis project focuses on STEM outreach for a particular group of disabled, the deaf and hard of hearing. There is a long history of deaf and hard of hearing children being poorly educated due to actions by the hearing community. Deaf and hard of hearing children are isolated not only from other deaf individuals but from their natural language, sign language. The goal of this project is to promote better educational practices and opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing children that also encourage an interest in STEM fields and education. This goal is met through the creation of the website deafstem.com. The website promotes the ideals set by the Bill of Rights for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children established in part by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). These include the ideals that a deaf or hard of hearing child has the same ability and capacity for language as any other child and that language pertains to both English and American Sign Language (ASL), that the families of these children play a significant role in their success, and that these children should have access and exposure to deaf and hard of hearing adults. The website build a bridge between deaf children, their hearing family, and the deaf community while promoting STEM fields by providing ASL dictionaries for both STEM and everyday vocabulary, biographies of influential deaf adults in STEM fields, and extracurricular activities for deaf and hard of hearing children.
ContributorsAlbi, Shannon Melissa (Author) / Howard, Pamela (Thesis director) / Barnett, Juliet (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
My thesis focuses on the use of American Sign Language in popular movies. My paper analyzes the intersection between popular media and language, a subject I find personally interesting. My project addresses how and when ASL is used in movies, including technical components such as lighting, framing, visibility, and subtitling. It also looks at the function of ASL, as well as Deafness and how it is portrayed. It focuses on three popular films: Children of a Lesser God (1986), The Shape of Water (2017), and A Quiet Place (2018). It also studies a fourth film, No Ordinary Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie (2013), which provides a Deaf perspective when it comes to filmmaking. These films are studies from technical and representational perspectives.
ContributorsEllis, Lucy Anne (Author) / Quinn, Paul (Thesis director) / Dove-Viebahn, Aviva (Committee member) / Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
DescriptionAcademic interests combined into a speculative science fiction novel. Concepts from American Sign Language, mechanical engineering, and journalism studies were all utilized during development of the novel.
ContributorsGraziano, River (Author) / Irish, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Bell, Matt (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Department of English (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This study examines the interactions and intentions of D/deaf and hearing students who participate in the American Sign Language (ASL) Club and deaf Devils Club at Arizona State University (ASU). By exploring how and why students choose to participate in these organizations, one can better understand interactions between D/deaf and hearing communities. This study explores reasons hearing students become involved with d/Deaf communities, the types of interactions the hearing and d/Deaf students participate in, and how student involvement can benefit from these interactions. Qualitative interviews with students of different hearing abilities and observations inside both clubs inform this study. The implications of this research may be applicable to other D/deaf communities.
ContributorsBalis, Sarah Michelle (Author) / Alberts, Jess (Thesis director) / Howard, Pam (Committee member) / Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies (Contributor) / School of Community Resources and Development (Contributor) / Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05