Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #ill12
Most recents (6)
William Herlofsky on ideophones in Japanese Sign Language. Based on the definition "marked and open class", he argues that JSL initialized signs are ideophones by productively incorporating iconic elements of a base sign with the (iconic) addition of Japanese kana forms. #ill12 
There was no time for my question/comment, but I would argue that the described category falls far outside the scope of ideophones. IMO, there are many signs/cxs in #signlanguages that could be argued to be ideophonic, but this is definitely not one. #ILL12
It seems too much importance has been given to the criterion of "open class", interpreted as "productive word formation". I would argue that "sensory depiction" is _less_ informative in intitialized signs than other signs... #ill12
Day 2 of #ill12 concludes with a (non-round) round-table panel on the topic "What is iconicity in your field?" with Elleström, @pernipa, @DingemanseMark & Ljungberg
@DingemanseMark on different types of iconicity studies. Regarding rating studies with non-linguist raters: "They might rate 'airplane' as iconic, because it goes in the air, but that's not really what we're going for." ✈️ #ill12
Last question from audience gets most reactions from panel: "Is it possible to establish a hierarchy of sensory expressions wrt iconicity?"
Elleström: "Vision+sound seem largest in brain."
@DingemanseMark: "Our cross-linguistic work shows a lot of variability wrt senses."
#ill12
Elleström: "Vision+sound seem largest in brain."
@DingemanseMark: "Our cross-linguistic work shows a lot of variability wrt senses."
#ill12
Now @anitaslonimska (with @ozyurek_a & @olgacapirci) on iconicity and simultaneity in information transmission, "the core function of language". #ill12
Experiment design includes 5 levels of information density/complexity: from simple static actions ('bunny and cat standing') to multiple simultaneous dynamic actions ('bunny holding cat and they are caressing each other'). #ill12
Signers can stack information simultaneously, but more complex (information/content dense) situations also result in longer sign sequences, so linear packing also necessary. #ill12
@pernipa on spatial relation descriptions in ASL — "put the penny in front of the quarter" 💱💰
ASL using translation strategy more often (like Hausa), whereas English prefer reflection strategy. #ill12
ASL using translation strategy more often (like Hausa), whereas English prefer reflection strategy. #ill12
However, ASL–English bilinguals show a higher proportion of translation strategy than English monolinguals: bilingual effect from ASL!
Also, some ASL signers say they could use either strategies, so bilingual effect from English.
#ill12
Also, some ASL signers say they could use either strategies, so bilingual effect from English.
#ill12
Sign language session starting with Yu-hsuan Lin talking about iconicity and articulatory economy in Taiwan Sign Language #ill12
I'm loving how this handshape is consistently referred to as "dragon handshape".
Dragon🐉 vs. Llama🦙: fight!
#ill12
Dragon🐉 vs. Llama🦙: fight!
#ill12
Conclusion: no significant difference between concrete vs. abstract concepts wrt the phonological complexity of handshapes (following Jean Ann) in TSL.
Q: Does lexical frequency matter? Does freq = simplification (phonetics) or complexity (e.g. morphological irregularity)?
#ill12
Q: Does lexical frequency matter? Does freq = simplification (phonetics) or complexity (e.g. morphological irregularity)?
#ill12
From the (preliminary) program of International Symposium on Iconicity in Language and Literature (#ILL12, Lund) and the listed names, it seems that the gender distribution is as follows:
Plenaries: 2 women; 2 men
Panel: 2 women; 2 men
Talks (1st authors only): 38 women; 26 men
Plenaries: 2 women; 2 men
Panel: 2 women; 2 men
Talks (1st authors only): 38 women; 26 men
Unfortunately, there is no information about accessibility on their website and no announcement of sign language interpreting or captioning (though I believe I heard rumors last year about possible interpreting being planned for the symposium).
And if you happen to be there, I will give a presentation entitled "Vertical metaphors in sign language antonyms" at 10:30–11:10 in Room 2, May 4th. #ILL12
