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Iconicity in BSL
Iconicity in sign language means that the form of the word or sign conveys
the meaning of the word or sign. In the 1970’s, iconicity was considered
sub-standard and a language that was considered to be highly iconic was not
a real language. Now, it is realized that iconicity is a characteristic of all
languages, spoken and signed. In spoken languages, an example of iconicity
is the sound (i), which is found in the English word ‘feet’, occurs more in
words that mean small or tiny, such as English ‘itsy bitsy teeny weenie’. In
American Sign Language, emotion signs, such as HAPPY, ANGRY and
FEEL, occur on the chest, while cognitive signs such as THINK, KNOW
and UNDERSTAND, occur on or near the temple. Iconicity occurs in every
language, spoken and signed.
Since visual imagery in sign language is more readily recognisable than
sound imagery in spoken languages, signers take active advantage of their
language’s iconic nature, while speakers rely more on fixed grammar,
making sign languages closer together in form. This is not to say that sign
languages are any less grammatical than spoken languages, just that sign
languages are more open to the symbolic part of their language.
An ‘icon’ is a symbol that looks like what it represents; for example, on
some computer desktops there is a ‘trash can’ icon that represents a way to
throw away computer files and folders. Similarly, the sign for ‘HOUSE’ is
iconic…it sort of looks like a house.
There are many iconic signs. But there are also many signs that are not
iconic or only vaguely iconic. For example, it is difficult to sign ‘look like’
or non-concrete concepts such as ‘why’, ‘for’, or ‘how’.
GESTURAL THEORY
The gestural theory states that human language developed from gestures that
were used for simple communication.
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Two types of evidence support this theory:
Gestural language and vocal language depend on similar neural systems.
The regions on the cortex that are responsible for mouth and hand
movements border each other. Non-human primates can use gestures or
symbols for at least primitive communication, and some of their gestures
resemble those of humans, such as the ‘’begging posture’’, with the hand
stretched out, which humans share with chimpanzees.
Research found strong support for the idea that verbal language and sign
language depend on similar neural structure. Patients who used sign
language, and who suffered from a left hemisphere legion, showed the same
disorders with their sign language as vocal patients did with their spoken
language. Other researchers found that the same left-hemisphere brain
regions were active during sign language as during the use of vocal or
written language.
The important question for gestural theories is why there was a shift to
vocalization. There are three likely explanations:
Our ancestors started to use more and more tools, meaning that their
hands were occupied and could not be used for gesturing.
Gesturing requires that the communicating individuals can see each other.
There are many situations in which individuals need to communicate even
without visual contact, for instance when a predator is closing in on
somebody who is up in a tree picking fruit.
The need to co-operate effectively with others in order to survive. A
command issued by a tribal leader to find stoes to repel attacking wolves
would create teamwork and much more powerful, co-ordinated response.
Humans still use hand and facial gestures when they speak, especially when
people meet who have no language in common.
Critics of gestural theory note, that it is difficult to name serious reason why
the initial pitch-based vocal communication (which is present in primates)
would be abandoned and change into the non-vocal, gestural
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communication, which was much less effective for the communication, than
vocal communication.
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