152 unit 3 design features

Semanticity

• 
  

The meaning of a signal comes from its association with specific objects or events.

Sign languages: YES

• 
  

Arbitrariness

• 
  

The relationship between a signal and its meaning is arbitrary (there is no natural connection between them).

Sign languages: YES, except for iconic signs.

• 
  

Vocal-Auditory Channel

• 
  

Speech signals are transmitted vocally by a speaker and received through the listener's hearing.

Sign languages: NO. They use a visual-manual channel.

• 
  

Broadcast Transmission & Directional Reception

• 
  

A signal is sent out in all directions by the speaker, but the listener can identify where the signal is coming from.

Sign languages: NO. Communication requires the receiver to look toward the signer.

Complete Feedback

• 
  

Speakers can hear and monitor their own speech productions while communicating.

Sign languages: PARTIALLY. Signers can see their hand gestures and finger movements, but not their facial expressions (unless using a mirror).

• 
  

Specialization

• 
  

Signals are specifically produced for communication rather than serving another biological function.

Sign languages: YES. Animal communication: Not always. For example, a dog panting because it is thirsty is a biological response rather than an intended message.

• 
  

Discreteness

• 
  

Language consists of separate, distinguishable units (phonemes, morphemes, syntactic constituents, etc.).

Sign languages: YES.

• 
  

Displacement

• 
  

Language allows us to communicate about things that are not physically present, including the past, future, or different locations.

Sign languages: YES.

• 
  

Rapid Fading

• 
  

Speech signals are temporary and disappear quickly after they are produced.

Sign languages: YES. Signs are also temporary and disappear once the movement is completed.

Interchangeability

• 
  

A competent language user can both produce (send) and receive messages.

Sign languages: YES.

• 
  

Openness / Productivity

• 
  

Language users can create and understand new messages they have never produced or heard before.

Sign languages: YES.

• 
  

Tradition

• 
  

Language can be taught and learned and passed down through generations.

Sign languages: YES.

• 
  

Duality of Patterning

• 
  

Smaller units (such as sounds or individual components) can be combined to create larger meaningful units (such as words or signs).

Sign languages: YES.