Sign-spoken bilingualism in hearing individuals with D/deaf parents (a questionnaire-based study on the contact between Polish Sign Language and spoken Polish)

Abstract

Presented research concerned sign-spoken bilingualism in hearing individuals with D/deaf parents (CODA, Child of Deaf Adult). When Polish Sign Language (polski język migowy, PJM) and spoken Polish are in contact, the following phenomena can be observed: code-switching, codeblending and simultaneous communication. The study aimed to investigate if CODAs observe the occurrence of the mentioned phenomena in their language experience and if they can clarify the reasons why those phenomena appear in their utterances. 32 participants described their languages’ experience in the Language Questionnaire for CODA. The findings showed that the majority of participants consider that they used code-blending, whereas the occurrence of other two phenomena
was declared with more diversity within the group. Four main causes of these phenomena were reported: automatic process/habit, lack of words in a given language, adaptation to the interlocutor’s needs and comfortable communication.