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Where does (sign) language begin?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2017

Iris Berent  and
Amanda Dupuis
Iris Berent
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02215. i.berent@neu.eduamandaleighdupuis@gmail.comhttp://www.northeastern.edu/berentlab/
Amanda Dupuis
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02215. i.berent@neu.eduamandaleighdupuis@gmail.comhttp://www.northeastern.edu/berentlab/
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Abstract

Goldin-Meadow & Brentari (G-M&B) outline several criteria for delineating the boundaries between (discrete) signs and (continuous) gestures. However, the complex links between linguistics forms and their phonetic realizations defy such heuristics. A systematic exploration of language structure by mouth and by hand may help get us closer to answering the important challenge outlined in this target article.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e48
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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References

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