Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Fall 2005

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Experimental Psychology

Committee Chair

M. Jensvold

Second Committee Member

R. Foust

Third Committee Member

Susan D. D. Lonborg

Abstract

Modulation in American Sign Language is meaningful systematic change in sign form. Young cross-fostered chimpanzees used sign modulations in ways that resemble human signers. Jensvold and Gardner (2000) videotaped conversations between adult chimpanzees-Washoe, Moja, Tatu, and Dar-and a human interlocutor under four conditions: general, on-topic, off-topic, and can't. Signs from this dataset were selected and analyzed for modulation. Like human signers, the adult chimpanzees modulated the signing speed, size, length, and number of reiterations. They used both single and combinatorial modulations. Modulation use varied with different functional categories of signs. The chimpanzees varied the sign modulation on repeated glosses between pairs of consecutive utterances. Changes in movement and other aspects of signing were significantly associated with changes in precision of sign form. Similarities in use of sign modulation between cross-fostered chimpanzees and human signers are discussed. This study generates future research questions.

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