This book is a major contribution to our knowledge of sign language phonology both in its comprehensiveness and its complexity. The prosodic model offered here distinguishes between features necessary for describing movement (prosodic features) and all others (inherent features). Many phonological issues are handled insightfully with this distinction, particularly issues in syllable structure, which up to this point have baffled many a linguist. This book should be read by anyone interested in sign, in syllable structure, and in prosody in general.
Doona Jo Napoli, Swarthmore College
Dr. Brentari's book offers an up-to-date, informative, original and well-documented synthesis of current-day theories on the word-level phonological structure of sign languages.
Harry van der Hulst, Holland Institue of Generative Linguistics, Leiden University
Brentari has written a lucid, engaging, and expert account of the phonological structure of signed languages, providing an excellent resource for linguists and psychologists, alike. Brentari's book is essential reading for anyone interested in the abstract nature of human language.
Karen Emmorey, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
