Exigencies of emerging phonological processes in sign languages: Response to Law, Power, and Quinto-Pozos

In this response to the target article by Law, Power, and Quinto-Pozos, which correctly points out that phonological change is a characteristic of both spoken and signed language, I note that we have more to learn from sign languages. Since sign languages are all very young in comparison to oral languages, linguists have an opportunity to observe phonological change as it occurs. Law et al. do not take into account the winding path of phonological change and the social and structural factors that influence this path. Conditions for such changes can be determined in part by the modality (oral or signed) in each type of language, as I discuss here.