Effects of iconicity in populations with speech, language, and communication needs

Abstract This chapter reviews the effects of iconicity in populations with speech, language, and communication needs. The majority of the work looks at symbol systems used for Augmented and Alternative Communication and iconic gestures used to support communication. The term “iconicity” therefore encompasses form–meaning relationships across different modalities of input and output (spoken word forms, visual stimuli, and gestures), with a focus on improving or achieving effective communication. Two points of interest are highlighted by the literature. First, for individuals to benefit from iconic forms during communication, they need to have relatively good semantic and referential skills. Second, iconic forms present a schematic representation and so they can be ambiguous and difficult to interpret. Therefore, when training individuals to use iconic forms, careful consideration needs to be given to the selection of forms (gestures, symbol sets), the individual’s skills, and the people, places, and situations within which they wish to communicate.