A1 Journal article (refereed)
Utterance fluency in Finnish Sign Language L1 and L2 signing (2021)

Sipronen, S., & Kanto, L. (2021). Utterance fluency in Finnish Sign Language L1 and L2 signing. Finnish Journal of Linguistics, 34, 149-177. https://journal.fi/finjol/article/view/103173

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Sipronen, Suvi; Kanto, Laura

Journal or series: Finnish Journal of Linguistics

eISSN: 2814-4376

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 34

Pages range: 149-177

Publisher: Suomen kielitieteellinen yhdistys

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: English

Persistent website address: https://journal.fi/finjol/article/view/103173

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/80379

Abstract

This paper explores the fluency of first language (L1) and second language (L2) signers of Finnish Sign Language. The phenomenon was approached by measuring utterance fluency using speed and breakdown parameters. The findings revealed clear differences between L1 and L2 signers regarding the measured fluency parameters. On average, L1 signers produced more signs and had fewer breakdowns per minute than L2 signers. However, the slowest L1 signer and the fastest L2 signer were more similar to each other than the averages of the L1 group’s (129.3) and the L2 group’s (71.4) signs per minute might suggest. The number of breakdowns per minute differed between the groups, with L2 signers breaking down on average over three times more often than L1 signers. The relative proportion of breakdown types also varied. These findings support the concept of fluency as rather a multidimensional continuum of features than a categorical phenomenon.

Keywords: sign language; mother tongue; second language; signs (sign language); fluency; velocity

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1