Deaf children creating written texts: contributions of American Sign Language and signed forms of English

Abstract

The objectives of this descriptive study were to investigate the ways in which American Sign Language (ASL) and English-based sign allow for comprehension of text content, and to determine how these two avenues of communication might mediate the process of reconstructing "signed meaning" in a written text. The authors argue that comprehensible input in a visual mode is possible in either ASL or English-based sign. They further claim that English-based signing may be an effective means of bridging the gap between inner speech and written text.