In signed languages, space can be used to build linguistic analogs for mental images and linguistically support conceptual domains such as time. This research aimed to (i) describe the spatial patterns of the Uruguayan Sign Language (LSU) time lexicon, (ii) test whether variables such as time construal, reference type, and iconicity labeling produce a clear-cut spatial pattern in the LSU time lexicon, and (iii) determine whether the LSU time lexicon might prime the mental timeline for LSU signers. We discuss how we selected a corpus, labeled space according to certain parameters, and characterized signs within unidimensional spaces. We applied a Chi-square goodness of fit test to compare multiple observed proportions among variables. The results confirmed a bias toward the Sagittal space for deictic time and biases for sequential and span time for Hand number and Reference type. We suggest considering these biases in time discrimination with deaf population.

We asked whether it is possible to simultaneously activate two timelines in the human mind. We hypothesized that the lateral (left-right) and sagittal (back-front) spatial dimensions can be coactivated and expected the congruent space-time mappings of each dimension (back-past front-future and left-past right-future), but not the non-coherent ones, to prime each other. Participants were asked to keep in mind the two spatial dimensions as discrete entities. Spanish speakers categorized the temporal reference of sentences by pressing a sagittal directional key with their left or right hand. Results suggest that (i) full congruence facilitates the spatial representation of time the most, (ii) full incongruence interferes the most with the spatial representation of time, and (iii) the two partial forms of congruence produce similar interference effects between the two spatial dimensions and time. The results were interpreted according to the Coherent Working Models approach.

Studies on the processing, functional, and social distribution of spoken and signed languages suggest partial overlaps between the mental lexicon of deaf and hearers. However, factors such as ontogenetic development, language acquisition conditions, the development of deaf culture, and the lexical repertoire available in each language suggest important differences. The aim was to explore the semantic networks of the conceptual domains of space and time in the Uruguayan deaf signers' population and Spanish hearers. 60 participants carried out a word association task in their respective languages and with semantically equivalent lexical items. Both groups showed an important formal similarity between their semantic networks. Mainly, a categorical-semantic analysis showed a bias of the hearers to taxonomic and introspective semantic relationships. In contrast, the deaf showed a bias toward situational semantic relationships and entities. These findings suggest differences in the concrete / abstract thinking between both populations when organizing their mental lexicon.

Metaphors change through time in different cultures, languages and across generations.This research aimed to test the change and social distribution of some metaphors inUruguayan Spanish. This study tested figurative expressions for the metaphors BEING INTHE OVEN IS DIFFICULTIES / HAZARDNESS, BANKING SOMETHING OR SOMEBODYIS BEARING IT and TO BE FLYING IS DOING SOMETHING WELL. On a multiple choiceonline questionnaire 267 Uruguayan female chose the meaning and the frequency that theybelieve they use previous metaphors. By using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) asa visual exploratory statistical tool, the study suggested Cultural Immersion and MetaphoricalProficiency as dimensions for explaining the social distribution of the aforementionedmetaphors. But even though MCA seems to be a useful tool for understanding themetaphors’ vitality, the short percentage of the variance explained by the dimensionssuggests introducing additional categories for obtaining an adequate proportion of thisvariance.

Current evidence supports the idea that time is mentally represented by unidimensional spaces. One main question iswhether the language modality grounds differences on using these spaces when signers and speakers share the culturalframing of time (e.g., by clocks, calendars, etc.). We tested whether past and future events are represented along a Left-PastRight-Future and a Behind-Past Ahead-Future mental timeline in two language modalities. In Experiments 1 and 2 deafsigners of Uruguayan Sign Language (LSU) categorized the temporal reference of LSU sentences by pressing a directionalkey. The congruency effect was registered for the Left-Past Right-Future trials and for hand setting counterbalancedBehind-Past Ahead-Future trials. Experiments 3 and 4 replicated the congruency effect for Spanish speakers. The findingsanswered the research question in line with the suggestion that when signers and speakers share the cultural framing oftime the tested space-time mappings activates on the same fashion.