« Gesture verbs »
A particular type of signs has been referred to as “classifier verbs” by a number of sign language linguists in the past four decades. This tradition developed as a parallel to the description of classifier predicates in spoken languages. The application of the notion of classifier verbs to these si...
Salvato in:
| Pubblicato in: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/cognitextes, |
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| Autore principale: | |
| Natura: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Lingua: | Anglais |
| Pubblicazione: |
CogniTextes
2011
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| Soggetti: | |
| Accesso online: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Riassunto: | A particular type of signs has been referred to as “classifier verbs” by a number of sign language linguists in the past four decades. This tradition developed as a parallel to the description of classifier predicates in spoken languages. The application of the notion of classifier verbs to these signed constructions is, however, increasingly regarded as problematic, which has led to a number of publications recently (e.g., Emmorey 2003). This article investigates these constructions in Norwegian Sign Language based on a cognitive-linguistic approach and attempts to answer how meaning is constructed in these signs. By applying mental space theory (Fauconnier 1997; further developed by Liddell 2003 for American Sign Language) it is argued that these signed constructions – also called “depicting verbs” – share some basic cognitive principles of iconic mapping with speech accompanying iconic gestures, while at the same time being integrated parts of sign language grammar. Based on three different blending types, three types of depicting verbs are proposed: manipulators, substitutors, and descriptors. |
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