Modality and Language Acquisition: How does the channel through which language is expressed affect how children and adults are able to learn?

  • 11k

    Total Downloads

  • 66k

    Total Views and Downloads

Download PDFDownload EPUB

Submit your idea

You will be redirected to our submission process.

Submit your manuscript summarySubmit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

It is now commonly accepted that the human language faculty is created, processed, and stored in the brain, but can be expressed through various channels (i.e., the vocal tract for spoken languages, the upper limbs and face for signed languages) and perceived through different channels as well (i.e., the ears as a main source for spoken languages, the eyes as a main medium for signed languages, and the hands as a main medium for tactile sign languages). The overwhelming evidence shows that despite differences in their modalities of expression and perception, such languages are similar in underlying structure in that they are organized at the sub-lexical, lexical, and syntactic levels, are acquired along similar timelines, are processed in the same brain regions, and are impaired in similar ways when the language centers of the brain are damaged.

Despite crucial similarities between signed and spoken languages, the role of the language modalities in acquisition and processing must be more deeply understood. In recent years, research has probed the ways in which learners may exploit the multimodal properties of spoken-language discourse; how, for example, does gesture contribute to the acquisition of spoken languages? The visual-gestural modality affords abundant iconic resources to linguistic and gestural forms that occupy that modality: What is the role of iconicity in the acquisition of signed languages? Does the iconicity available within the acoustic signal play a role in the acquisition of spoken languages? Work on atypically-developing children has shown, for example, that the underlying deficits associated with autism spectrum disorder yield different linguistic markers in sign and speech. Other research has addressed differences in the variability of the speech and sign signals and consequent differences in the problems that learners—whether children, adults or computers—face in identifying lexical items. Still other research has explored motoric differences in speech and sign articulation, differences in imitation in sign and speech, and evolutionary perspectives on the modalities of language. Although we, the editors, have focused on the signed languages of the Deaf throughout our careers, we seek papers that explore the role of modalities in the acquisition of spoken languages, of visual signed languages, and of tactile signed languages.

This Research Topic seeks papers from scholars who are interested in the role that modalities play in language acquisition and in language processing, specifically focusing on studies that can illuminate differences in acquisition and processing that may be the result of modality differences. Papers can focus on the constraints that learners confront in the different language modalities, or on the resources that the different modalities afford learners. Submissions may include works on spoken, signed, tactile, or written languages, in children or adults, first- or second-language learners, and learners with typical or atypical development.

Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Perspective-taking in language

• Embodiment of language

• Iconicity in signed and spoken languages

• Evolutionary perspectives on the modalities of language

• Variability in the linguistic signal in sign and speech

• Developmental perspectives on modality/modalities/multimodality

• Language processing and multimodality

• Representations of, and use of, space in language

• Imitation strategies in sign and speech

• Impact of gesture and multimodality on language acquisition and learning

• Computer recognition of sign and speech

• Experimental approaches in language acquisition and processing studies

• Atypical development of language in sign and speech

Keywords: First language acquisition, second language acquisition, modality, multimodality, sign language, speech, iconicity, language

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and they fall under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

      In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Participating Journals

Impact

  • 66kTopic views
  • 52kArticle views
  • 11kArticle downloads
View impact