Does the knowledge of a natural sign language facilitate Deaf children's learning to read and write? Insights from French Sign Language and written French data
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Nathalie Niederberger
Abstract
This chapter concerns the relationship between French Sign Language (LSF) and written French skills developed by Deaf children. Previous studies showed positive correlations between ASL and written English skills, with little analysis of the processes involved. In the investigation presented here, thirty-nine bilingual Deaf children, aged from 8 to 17, from the French-speaking/signing part of Switzerland, were studied. Their comprehension and production skills were tested at the morphosyntactic and narrative levels. Results show positive correlations between the skills developed in written French and LSF. These data provide new evidence that early mastery of a natural sign language facilitates the acquisition of a written language. In addition, sign language narrative and comprehension skills appear to play an important role in this relationship.
Abstract
This chapter concerns the relationship between French Sign Language (LSF) and written French skills developed by Deaf children. Previous studies showed positive correlations between ASL and written English skills, with little analysis of the processes involved. In the investigation presented here, thirty-nine bilingual Deaf children, aged from 8 to 17, from the French-speaking/signing part of Switzerland, were studied. Their comprehension and production skills were tested at the morphosyntactic and narrative levels. Results show positive correlations between the skills developed in written French and LSF. These data provide new evidence that early mastery of a natural sign language facilitates the acquisition of a written language. In addition, sign language narrative and comprehension skills appear to play an important role in this relationship.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Foreword xi
- Acknowledgements xv
- Code-mixing in signs and words in input to and output from children 1
- Does the knowledge of a natural sign language facilitate Deaf children's learning to read and write? Insights from French Sign Language and written French data 29
- Bilingualism and deafness: Correlations between deaf students' ability to use space in Quebec Sign Language and their reading comprehension in French 51
- Why variation matters: On language contact in the development of L2 written German 73
- Deaf and hearing children: Reading together in preschool 137
- Can signed language be planned? Implications for interpretation in Spain 165
- Language use and awareness of deaf and hearing children in a bilingual setting 195
- Sign bilingualism in Spanish deaf education 223
- Ideologic signs in Deaf education discourse 277
- Sign language and oral/written language in Deaf education in China 297
- Sign bilingualism: Language development, interaction, and maintenance in sign language contact situations 333
- Index 381
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Foreword xi
- Acknowledgements xv
- Code-mixing in signs and words in input to and output from children 1
- Does the knowledge of a natural sign language facilitate Deaf children's learning to read and write? Insights from French Sign Language and written French data 29
- Bilingualism and deafness: Correlations between deaf students' ability to use space in Quebec Sign Language and their reading comprehension in French 51
- Why variation matters: On language contact in the development of L2 written German 73
- Deaf and hearing children: Reading together in preschool 137
- Can signed language be planned? Implications for interpretation in Spain 165
- Language use and awareness of deaf and hearing children in a bilingual setting 195
- Sign bilingualism in Spanish deaf education 223
- Ideologic signs in Deaf education discourse 277
- Sign language and oral/written language in Deaf education in China 297
- Sign bilingualism: Language development, interaction, and maintenance in sign language contact situations 333
- Index 381
