Sign Language Processing

Sign languages present a unique and natural opportunity to investigate the cognitive mechanisms of language comprehension and production, particularly in terms of their universality. Sign-speech comparisons can lead to important theoretical insights about language processing. In the present paper, we enquire about the processing - recognition and production - of sign languages with special attention to the effects of age of acquisition and iconicity. Our aim is to provide a review of current findings about the psychological processes involved in sign language processing examining what aspects may be universal and what aspects are affected by modality.