Abstract

CAPOVILLA, Fernando Cesar. Speech, print and sign recognition and production: Mental lexicons in neurotypical, blind, deaf, and deaf-blind people. Rev. psicopedag. [online]. 2023, vol.40, n.122, pp.122-158.  Epub June 24, 2024. ISSN 0103-8486.  https://doi.org/10.51207/2179-4057.20230013.

This conceptual article presents a taxonomy for a systematic description of the various lexicons, or mental representation inventories, involved in the production and recognition of spoken words (received by hearing, sight, and touch), of written words (received by sight and touch), and of signs (received by sight and touch) by neurotypical, blind, deaf, and deaf-blind students. The article crosses linguistic modalities of expression (speech, writing, and signing) and sensory modalities of reception (hearing, sight, and touch). It identifies seven linguistic lexicons, three of which pertain to speech reception (by hearing, sight, and touch), two pertain to writing reception (by sight, touch), and two pertain to sign reception (by sight, touch). Each of the seven lexicons is subdivided into an input lexicon for linguistic recognition and an output lexicon for linguistic production. The article describes procedures to evaluate each of them and identifies a series of standardized and validated instruments to do so. Within each lexicon, there is a particular structure with coordinates and value scales to accurately index lexical representations. The article describes the structure of each lexicon and the coordinate settings for lexical storage, processing, and retrieval. Learning and memorization produce lexical storage. A lexical comparison produces pattern recognition in the linguistic reception of speech, writing, and signs. Lexical retrieval produces the evocation of patterns in linguistic expression through speech, writing, and signs. The article describes how the deaf and blind recognize words by groping the configuration (of shapes and movements of the mouth and lips, and vibrations of the nostrils and larynx) characteristic of each word. Vowels are recognized by the degree of mouth opening and lip protrusion. Vowels and nasal consonants are distinguished from oral ones by the vibration of the nostrils. Ascending diphthongs, descending diphthongs, and triphthongs are recognized by the opening-closing sequence of the mouth. Voiced consonants are distinguished from voiceless ones by the vibration of the larynx. Each groped word can be recognized by a certain temporal sequence of pattern configurations of shapes and vibrations, which constitutes its precise address in the lexicon of groped words. There are two processes of alphabetic reading and orofacial reading: sublexical decoding of new words; and lexical direct visual recognition of familiar words. The lexical process is faster and more effective than the sublexical one, but its effectiveness depends on the strength and quality of the representation. The more familiar the item, the stronger its lexical representation. The higher the index parametric accuracy resulting from learning, the better the representation quality, storage, processing, and retrieval. Accurate representations are easier to recognize when understanding speech and writing. And easier to evoke (lexical retrieval) to speak, write, and sign. The article helps to understand how to construct lexicons systematically to improve their effectiveness for recognition and direct lexical rescue of speech, writing, and signing. The paper helps to conduct systematic planning of educational and clinical assessment and intervention procedures in the field of language.

Keywords : Lexicon; Deaf; Deafblind; Speech; Reading; Spelling; Sign.

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