摘要：The following paper examines modality independent and modality specific properties
of the syllable in a comparative study of written language, oral language and sign
Janguage. It is argued that the main modality independent property is an alternation
structure with specific syllable defining characteristics. The differences between the
three different modalities are captured by examining the specific properties of the
Ünguistic substance: phonetic sound, gestural sign, written letter. The graphemic
syllable is the main concern in the present paper, since it is a concept which has been
rnost often called into doubt. Some linguists have argued that the graphemic syllable
is an epiphenomenon of the sound syllable. Evidence from past research äs well äs
j svidence to be presented in the current paper suggest an alternative model of the
jnteraction between the three modalities. Instead of deriving one modality specific
System from another, an underlying more abstract, modality independent structure is
posited. The sound System, the sign System, and the graphemic System are treated äs
Interface phenomena which result from the interaction between the underlying
modality independent System and the articulatory-auditive, the gestural-visual and
the writing-visual System respectively.
