This preliminary study investigates lexical retrieval of written English with native English speakers (i.e., hearing) and American Sign Language (ASL) signers (i.e., deaf) by using masked priming techniques. Repetition and pseudohomophone priming were tested. These types of priming were employed in order to investigate phonological and/or orthographic effects. A significant facilitative phonological effect for hearing participants and a significant

inhibitory orthographic effect for deaf participants were found, showing clearly that the modality differences of participants who use sign or spoken languages are a factor in the lexical processing of written English.