speed of movement in signs

[Susan Fischer]

Rain,
I think I disagree with your premise that speed is not phonologically
contrastive in ASL.  there is at least one minimal pair, ARRIVE and
PROVE that differ only in acceleration and/or speed.  The bounce-back in
PROVE is, I believe, a concomitant of the speed.
Susan fischer

Rain G. Bosworth wrote:

> I'd appreciate comments on one or both of my questions:
>
> Are there any sign languages where the speed of hands is
> phonologically contrastive?  It's not in ASL.  Maybe the only role
> variation in speed has in ASL is for emphasis, but even then I'm not
> sure whether it is the change in distance in sign "space" travelled
> or speed, or both, that convey emphasis.
>
> I'm interested in whether one could ever have a minimal sign pair,
> different in speed alone, with each sign meaning something different.
>
> Any references to studies on speed of movement in signs?  Either the
> perception or production of speed, or whether speed of hands is
> linguistically relevant....
>
> Thanks!
> Rain
>
> --
>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Rain Grant Bosworth
> RainBosworth at home.com
> lab: (858) 822-0541
> Infant Vision Laboratory
> Psychology Department, 0109
> University of California, San Diego
> La Jolla, California 92093
> website: http://psy.ucsd.edu/~rbosworth
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


--
Susan Fischer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           e-mail: fischer at mail.rit.edu
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