Blending languages: linguistic descriptions

Authors

  • Ronice Müller de Quadros Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
  • Diane Lillo-Martin University of Connecticut
  • Marilyn Mafra Klamt Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1407-4425

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/1984-8412.2020.e77231

Abstract

This article presents the phenomenon of blending of languages in bimodal bilinguals. For bimodal bilinguals, the languages acquired during linguistic development involve different modalities: a sign language and a spoken language. Because the languages are expressed in different modalities, it is possible to produce structures using both languages simultaneously. We use such productions to better understand the architecture of bilingual linguistic systems both in general and for bimodal bilinguals in particular. The investigation that gave rise to this study works with two pairs of languages: Brazilian sign language (Libras) with Brazilian Portuguese (PB), and American Sign Language (ASL) with American English (EA). The results presented here focus on the pair Libras and PB, although there is a close parallel found in the pair ASL and EA. The grammatical aspects covered involve two types of constructions in blending production: passives and causatives. The bimodal productions show a consistent convergence as provided by our view of the synthesis of languages.

Author Biographies

Ronice Müller de Quadros, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Ronice Müller de Quadros é professora e pesquisadora da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, no Departamento de Libras e pesquisadora do CNPQ .

Diane Lillo-Martin, University of Connecticut

Diane Lillo-Martin é professora e pesquisadora da University of Connecticut .

Marilyn Mafra Klamt, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Marilyn Mafra Klamt é professora e pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, no Departamento de Libras.

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Published

2020-12-30

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 4 (2020)

Section

Dossier

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