ABSTRACT
 
  Bimodal communication (BC) is the introduction of 
individual signs into a spoken English interaction, or the 
introduction of individual English words into a signed 
conversation. It differs from code-switching, as code-switching 
is usually defined, in that it involves the expression of two codes 
simultaneously, rather than sequentially. The current research 
explores the usage and the patterns of occurrence of BC among 
hearing female signers who are conversing in English. Such an 
exploration will be useful not only to sociolinguists, but also to 
psycholinguists, and to linguists in general. 
 The subjects, who ranged from non-signers to sign interpretation 
students, were videotaped performing scenarios. An analysis of the 
tapes revealed that the amount of sign people know affects their 
BC rate. Between scenarios, there was a linear relationship between 
signing ability and BC rate. Within scenarios, when the subjects 
were self-conscious and on their best behavior, the relationship 
was that of an inverse-U. The skilled signers adapted the amount 
of BC they used to the social situation. As one subject put it, she 
could turn her BC usage on and off. Even when they were limiting 
their BC usage, however, the advanced signers still used more BC 
during the scenarios than did the non-signers and the beginners.
 The type of signs used in BC varied according to skill level in 
such a way as to indicate that, at least for the more skilled 
signers, a knowledge of sign does not merely reinforce the use of 
"mainstream gestures": it actually changes the type of illustrators 
which subjects use.
 BC serves a number of functions, which include trying to 
improve the transmission of a message, strategic negotiation, and 
identity marking. 
 The study of bimodal communication challenges the traditional 
division between language and gesture. It also provides a bridge among several 
different areas of study; namely, the research on code-changing, simultaneous communication, and non-verbal communication. Finally, it yields data which 
psycholinguists can use to help determine how languages are stored 
and accessed in the mind of a bilingual person.
 
Chapter 1: The Statement of the Problem 




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