The Effect of Handshape Complexity on M2 Lexical Acquisition for First-Time Learners in Chinese Sign Language

The influence of certain parameters of sign language phonology has long been under investigation. Sign language phonology mainly includes handshape and movement. Prior research has focused on the immediate reproduction of signs, with limited attention to long-term memorization. This gap necessitates examining how handshape complexity affects the retention and acquisition of sign language vocabulary over time. To address this gap, this study applied Boyes-Braems ASL-based classification for handshape markedness to categorize CSL handshapes. Questionnaires were sent to over 200 participants, asking them to guess the meanings of our selected stimuli signs, and research members assessed iconicity using a systematic scoring method. Consequently, eight Mandarin-speaking and sign-naive participants aged 15-16 were recruited and randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received reinforced learning sessions, while the control group did not. This study measured accuracy in sign reproduction across different stages of markedness, both short-term and long-term. Our findings indicate that handshape markedness negatively affects lexical acquisition while iconicity enhances it. Reinforced learning methods also significantly improved long-term retention. These results suggest that effective pedagogical strategies for CSL should account for handshape complexity and iconicity.