Baby Talk in ASL
Is there manual babbling in sign language? Yes. Does signed language function in the same left cerebral regions as spoken language? Yes. Is a signed language (e.g. ASL, Auslan, etc) a real human language? Yes. Does sign language have linguistics? Yes.
Intriguing? Doubtful? Makes sense? It depends on how you grew up with your beliefs and values. Research studies in the fields from neuroscience to linguistics can confirm these.
"Deny it to the mouth and it will dart out through the fingers." -- linguist Lila Gleitmanof, the University of Pennsylvania.
Language development and acquisition
This project "Baby Talk in ASL" (and the subsequent years) follows an adorable baby's language development and acquisition as well as literacy development in sign language, specifically ASL, from her birth to the present time (whenever it will be) in a natural native-ASL environment and visual culture.
Plus, it includes some selected anecdotes and stories of other babies and parents along the way. Got any story of yours?
A week-by-week post will be added on a weekly basis from January 2012. The Toddler Talk in ASL will launch in January 2013 with the posts also added on a weekly basis.
Join in our journey at Baby Talk in ASL.
Subscribe to Kid Talk in ASL at handspeak.com by RSS email
*Note: "baby sign language" is an inappropriate term.