Order of thinking: A cognitive neuroscience approach

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K02754
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Linguistics
• Research Institution: Kyoto Women's University
• Principal Investigator: KIM JUNGHO 京都女子大学, 文学部, 准教授 (70513852)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 日本手話 / 日本語対応手話 / 角回 / 脳機能イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An fMRI experiment was conducted to clarify the brain mechanisms involved in the grammatical processing of Japanese Sign Language (JSL) and Signed Japanese (SJ) by observing the brain activity of sign language speakers understanding JSL or SJ. SJ is defined as expression using words borrowed from JSL in accordance with Japanese linguistic structures. In addition, since SJ does not have Non Manual Markers with grammatical functions, it is highly likely that SJ will be perceived by JSL as unnatural and akin to gestures. In this way, there is a significant difference between SJ and JSL in whether there is an NMM responsible for <grammatical functions>. The experiment confirmed significant brain activity in the left angular gyrus when understanding JSL compared to JS. The angular gyrus is known as a region related to sign language comprehension. The results of this study proved from a scientific viewpoint that JSL is a language with grammatical functions like Japanese and English.

Free Research Field

認知言語脳科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果は、日本手話も日本語と英語のような文法機能を備えている言語の一つであることを科学的な観点から支持するものである。また、多くの手話教室で用いられている日本語対応手話は、ネイティブ・サイナーが用いている日本手話と同じ文法機能を持っているとはいいがたく、手話教室や教育現場で日本語対応手話ではなく日本手話を指導する必要性を社会にアピールするきっかけとなりうる。