Bimodal-Bilingual students find no lag in dominant language

[GrendelQ]

If I'm reading this right, it looks likes this study shows that taking a bilingual bimodal route, despite splitting language use between 2 languages, does NOT slow down English use (although it does slow down ASL). I'm waiting for the full article to be available, but I'm wondering why they used only hearing bimodally bilingual students who have English as a dominant language, and not also a group of deaf bimodally bilingual students.

Bimodal Bilingualism and the Frequency-Lag Hypothesis
Karen Emmorey*,1, Jennifer A. F. Petrich1 and Tamar H. Gollan2
1 San Diego State University
2 University of California, San Diego

Accepted September 5, 2012.
Abstract
The frequency-lag hypothesis proposes that bilinguals have slowed lexical retrieval relative to monolinguals and in their nondominant language relative to their dominant language, particularly for low-frequency words. These effects arise because bilinguals divide their language use between 2 languages and use their nondominant language less frequently. We conducted a picture-naming study with hearing American Sign Language (ASL)–English bilinguals (bimodal bilinguals), deaf signers, and English-speaking monolinguals. As predicted by the frequency-lag hypothesis, bimodal bilinguals were slower, less accurate, and exhibited a larger frequency effect when naming pictures in ASL as compared with English (their dominant language) and as compared with deaf signers. For English there was no difference in naming latencies, error rates, or frequency effects for bimodal bilinguals as compared with monolinguals. Neither age of ASL acquisition nor interpreting experience affected the results; picture-naming accuracy and frequency effects were equivalent for deaf signers and English monolinguals. Larger frequency effects in ASL relative to English for bimodal bilinguals suggests that they are affected by a frequency lag in ASL. The absence of a lag for English could reflect the use of mouthing and/or code-blending, which may shield bimodal bilinguals from the lexical slowing observed for spoken language bilinguals in the dominant language.

 

[Mountain Man]

I'm wondering why they used only hearing bimodally bilingual students who have English as a dominant language, and not also a group of deaf bimodally bilingual students.

Most likely because it is a common belief among audiologists and speech therapists that introducing sign language will make it harder for a child to master English. My wife and I frequently heard this objection from medical professionals when we used sign language to give our speech delayed hearing son access to expressive communication. No worries about that now because the kid literally never shuts up! About the only time he isn't talking is when he's asleep.

 

[GrendelQ]

The study is specifically addressing and testing the belief that sign will slow use of English. These are Gallaudet VL2 associated researchers, so I'd have thought they'd have access to deaf bimodally-bilingual students for this study.

 

[Mountain Man]

It's a little harder to test what you're suggesting because not every deaf person has equal access to English, and most deaf will naturally gravitate to sign language if exposed to it because it's the most natural form of communication for a deaf individual.

I think the primary goal here is to address the concerns of audiologists and speech therapists who are reluctant to use sign language as part of a therapy program.