stuttering in signed languages

[Karen Emmorey]

In some recent talks, I have hypothesized that stuttering might be  
rare in sign language because there is a weak link between visual  
feedback and sign production.  Some theories of stuttering  
hypothesize a disruption between auditory feedback and speech  
production.  Also, delayed auditory feedback can cause stuttering and  
can sometimes improve symptoms in stutterers.  So I've been following  
the anecdotes to see whether I could rule out sign stuttering due to  
late learning or as an effect that carries over from speech in  
hearing signers.  So I guess we have an interesting result either  
way.  If stuttering turns out to be as common in signers as in  
speakers, then this suggests that stuttering is indeed a language  
disorder.  On the other hand, if stuttering turns out to be rare in  
sign language, this supports my hypothesis that visual feedback is  
not strongly linked to language output, compared to spoken language.

Karen Emmorey

*****************************************
Dr. Karen Emmorey
Professor, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
San Diego State University

Director, Laboratory for Language and Cognitive Neuroscience
6495 Alvarado Road, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92120

Office (voice); (619) 594-8080
Lab (voice): (619) 594-8049
Fax: (619) 594-8056
email: kemmorey at mail.sdsu.edu

Lab website:  http://emmoreylab.sdsu.edu



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