A Bilingual Introduction

Deborah Chen Pichler, Marlon Kuntze, Diane Lillo-Martin, Ronice Müller de Quadros, and Marianne Rossi Stumpf

This video textbook offers an accessible introduction to first, second, and bilingual language acquisition, focusing on sign languages as the primary frame of reference. Signed entirely in American Sign Language with accompanying slides and an optional English voice-over, this video text provides an innovative approach that is accessible to both ASL-dominant and English-dominant users.

View Textbook Introduction

Sign Language Acquisition by Deaf and Hearing Children draws from a rich body of sign language research to guide the user through the major developmental milestones for language acquisition. The textbook examines universal properties of first language acquisition, the wide variation in language input experienced by deaf children, and the impact of such variation on language development. Sign language development in other contexts, focusing on late-exposed signers, child and adult bilingual signers, hearing L2 signers, and atypical signers with cognitive disorders or Specific Language Impairments, is also addressed.

Critical terms and concepts are highlighted on slides that accompany each chapter, indicating their inclusion in the 200+ item bilingual Glossary. PDFs of the chapter slides and a complete bibliography can be found in the Resources section.

All royalties from sales of this video text are being donated by the authors to the Nyle DiMarco Foundation.