How you sign tells something about who you are

In the study "Sociophonetics and Signed Languages," by Deaf Center Postdoctoral Scholar, Amelia A. Becker, and her collaborators Julie A. Hochgesang, Meredith Tamminga, and Jami N. Fisher, explore how social factors, like age, region, and education, affect the way people use ASL. Just as people speak with different accents, signers show subtle differences in how they sign based on their backgrounds.

Research has shown that deaf people who went to residential schools for the Deaf often have different signing styles compared to those who went to mainstream schools. Regional differences are also common. For example, ASL users in different parts of the country may use slightly different handshapes or movements when signing the same word—similar to how spoken language accents vary.

Key Findings: A Case Study of Philadelphia ASL

In Philadelphia, we observed a phenomenon we called "dominance reversal," where signers switch which hand plays the dominant role in two-handed signs during conversations. While this often happens when the dominant hand is busy, in Philadelphia, this reversal occurs even when the hand isn’t occupied. Our findings suggest that dominance reversal may be tied to social and stylistic factors, making it a unique feature of this variety of ASL.

What This Means for Parents and Educators

Recognizing these social and regional variations can help teachers and learners appreciate the richness and diversity of ASL. It also reminds us that just like with spoken languages, there isn’t just one “correct” way to sign—different styles reflect different experiences and identities within the Deaf community.

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