Event visibility in sign language motion: Evidence from Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS)

Author(s): Krebs, Julia; Strutzenberger, Gerda; Schwameder, Hermann; Wilbur, Ronnie B; Malaia, Evie; Roehm, Dietmar | Abstract: This is the first kinematic investigation of articulator motion in Austrian Sign Language, which connects kinesiology of sign production and linguistic markers of Aktionsart in the native language of the Deaf community in Austria. Our work used a 3D motion capture approach to sign language analysis to investigate the relationship between the semantics (event structure) of signed verbs, and kinematics of hand articulator movement. The data indicates that the underlying semantics of events in verb signs is reflected in sign duration and acceleration of the dominant hand during sign production. The finding that articulator dynamics (acceleration and deceleration of hand motion) characterizes the event structure in verb signs has significance for linguistic theory of visual communication, and understanding of the relationship between iconicity in sign language, and perceptual biases in meaning construction based on visual input.