Language modalities:Auditory-Vocal and Visual-Gestural LanguagesFrom Bergmann, file 1.5Language modality refers to how a language is roduced and ercei!edauditory !ocalaural"oralso#en language!isual gesturalsign languages$he latter use hand and arm mo!ements, facial e%ressions, and head mo!eme&ome common misconcetions a'out sign languages:a. Signed Language vs. Manual Codesb. Signed Language vs. Pantomime (iconicity)c. Universality of Signed Languages (there are more than 15 documented sign languages)$a#en from Finnegan, . 1($hus, while signed languages are 'y and large associated with deaf eole, it is neither the case that only deaf indi!iduals sign nor the case that deaf indi!iduals must sign. )ather, 'oth auditory-!ocal and !isual-gestural modalities are !ia'le otions for human language, and the choice 'etween them will deend in any gi!en circumstance on 'oth hysical and social arameters.)ecommended reading on sign languages: *li!er &ac#s, Seeing Voices +in &anish Veo una voz,