The recall of signs and words by deaf

Author(s): Eyferth, K.

Journal/Book: Sprache Kognit. 1995; 14: Langgass-Strasse 76, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland. Verlag Hans Huber. 116-125.

Abstract: This paper reports a comparison of certain features of short-term memory between deaf and hearing subjects. The features relate to linguistic material. The subjects' task was a serial recall of the stimuli. Stimuli were presented as German words or signs on a screen. With different lists of similar stimuli it was possible to determine the code used in short-term memory. Both deaf and hearing subjects used primarily a phonological code. The memory span of these groups differed significantly: the hearing subjects were able to reproduce 1.2 items more than the deaf. A further aspect of the results refers to the semiotic status of oral movements in German Sign Language. We found chat this component is processed together with the manual component of a sign, which indicates a difference between this language and American Sign Language, excluding a direct comparison between both languages.

Note: Article FA Drews, Tech Univ Berlin, Inst Psychol, Dovestr 1-5, D-10587 Berlin, Germany

Keyword(s): SHORT-TERM-MEMORY; ORDER RECALL; LANGUAGE; HEARING; CHILDREN; READERS

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