Signmatics: An Interactive Digital Based System for Multimodal Learning of Hearing Students in Bulgarian Sign Language

Abstract

The proposed scientific text describes an experimental study, the purpose of which is prioritized to test an interactive digitally based system Signmatics for mastering linguistic content in Bulgarian Sign Language (BGSL) by students who study it as a second language (E2). The formed sample includes 62 participants –- students studying in a bachelor’s program in the specialty of Special Education. The study uses a quasi-experimental design of non-equivalent groups: an experimental group of 30 students (48.39%) which was subjected to the digitally based intervention and a control group of 32 students (51.61%), trained in conventional ways. The verification of receptive and expressive language skills in BGSL at the level of phonetics, vocabulary and morphosyntax was carried out by applying a standardized language test, decomposed into 3 subtests. The comparative approach to the results of the study convincingly shows that the interactive Signmatics system applied in a real time frame has a high efficiency coefficient in mastering the visual language at the level of vocabulary (F=26.574, p<0.000), morphosyntax (F=1.423, p<0.001). At the phonetic level, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (F=0.001, p=0.971), an explanation for which can be sought in the specificity of the visual phonemes, as building blocks of the sign. The latter finding suggests the idea of ​​maintaining continuity between modern digital technologies and traditional strategies for teaching and learning linguistic material which have stood the test of time.