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Article published In: Asia-Pacific Language Variation
Vol. 2:1 (2016) ► pp.4–47

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Location variation in Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL)

 | Victoria University of Wellington
Published online: 29 September 2016
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https://doi.org/10.1075/aplv.2.1.01siu
Abstract
This paper presents results from a study of sociolinguistic variation in Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL). Specifically, it reports findings about location variation in a class of signs like know that are produced at/above the signer’s forehead in their citation form, but are sometimes articulated at a lower location in everyday conversation. Eight hundred tokens of target signs from 40 signers were analyzed. As also found in studies of location ‘dropping’ in similar signs in American Sign Language, Australian Sign Language, and New Zealand Sign Language, variation in HKSL correlates with linguistic and social factors in a systematic way (Lucas, Ceil, Bayley, Robert, & Valli, Clayton (2001). Sociolinguistic variation in American Sign Language. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; Schembri, Adam, McKee, David, McKee, Rachel, Pivac, Sara, Johnston, Trevor, & Goswell, Della (2009). Phonological variation and change in Australian and New Zealand Sign Languages: The location variable. Language Variation and Change, 211, 193–231. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). A comparison of findings across these four languages is presented and discussed. The results of the present study suggest that a set of forehead-located signs that express the names of deaf schools may have affected results due to their salience. The work environment (i.e., sign language related work roles) of participants may also affect ‘careful’ versus lowered production of forehead signs.
抽象
本文陳述香港手語語音（音韻）變異的研究結果，這是香港手語詞彙變異研究結果的一部分。該項研究主要集中在一組位置在前額的手語詞彙上。這些手語詞彙發語位置在前額或接近前額，但在日常對話中，有時會出現位置下移的情況。本研究從40個聾人的對話語料中，獲取了800個目標手語作分析. 。研究結果與早前美國手語、澳洲手語和紐西蘭手語的研究結果相符。該組手語的位置變異，與語言及社會因素有系統性的關連 (Lucas, Ceil, Bayley, Robert, & Valli, Clayton (2001). Sociolinguistic variation in American Sign Language. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; Schembri, Adam, McKee, David, McKee, Rachel, Pivac, Sara, Johnston, Trevor, & Goswell, Della (2009). Phonological variation and change in Australian and New Zealand Sign Languages: The location variable. Language Variation and Change, 211, 193–231. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar)。本文比較和討論這四種手語的研究結果。本研究結果亦表明了聾校的手語名字，由於其顯著性，對位置變異有著重要的影響。另外，在與聾人有關的機構工作，也和手語位置變異相關。.
關鍵字：社會語言學變異、音韻變異、語言的變化、位置變數，香港手語。
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Location variation in ASL, Auslan, and NZSL
    • 2.1The ASL study
    • 2.2The Auslan study and the NZSL study
  • 3.Sociohistorical context for HKSL variation
  • 4.Methodology
    • 4.1Participants
    • 4.2Data collection
    • 4.3Data coding
    • 4.4Data analysis
    • 4.5Multicollinearity
  • 5.Results
    • 5.1Linguistic factors
    • 5.2Social factors
  • 6.Discussion
    • 6.1Comparison with ASL, Auslan, and NZSL results
    • 6.2Language change in progress?
    • 6.3The deaf school name signs
    • 6.4Deaf-related work environment
  • 7.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
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