A WORD-LENGTH EFFECT FOR SIGN LANGUAGE - FURTHER EVIDENCE FOR THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE IN STRUCTURING WORKING-MEMORY

We report a sign Length effect in deaf users of American Sign Language that is analogous to the word length effect for speech. Lists contain ing long signs (signs that traverse relatively long distances) produce d poorer memory performance than did lists of short signs (signs that do not change in location). Further, this length effect was eliminated by articulatory suppression (repetitive motion of the hands), and art iculatory suppression produced an overall drop in performance. The pat tern of results, together with previous findings (Wilson & Emmorey, 19 97), provides evidence for a working memory system for sign language t hat consists of a phonological storage buffer and an articulatory rehe arsal mechanism. This indicates a close equivalence of structure betwe en working memory for sign language and working memory for speech. The implications of this equivalence are discussed.