Classifier constructions in sign languages

In sign languages, the term classifier construction (also known as classifier predicates) refers to a morphological system that can express events and states. They use handshape classifiers to represent movement, location, and shape. Classifiers differ from signs in their morphology, namely in that signs consist of a single morpheme. Signs are composed of three meaningless phonological features: handshape, location, and movement. Classifiers, on the other hand, consist of many morphemes. Specifically, the handshape, location, and movement are all meaningful on their own. The handshape represents an entity and the hand's movement iconically represents the movement of that entity. The relative location of multiple entities can be represented iconically in two-handed constructions.

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enIn sign languages, the term classifier construction (also known as classifier predicates) refers to a morphological system that can express events and states. They use handshape classifiers to represent movement, location, and shape. Classifiers differ from signs in their morphology, namely in that signs consist of a single morpheme. Signs are composed of three meaningless phonological features: handshape, location, and movement. Classifiers, on the other hand, consist of many morphemes. Specifically, the handshape, location, and movement are all meaningful on their own. The handshape represents an entity and the hand's movement iconically represents the movement of that entity. The relative location of multiple entities can be represented iconically in two-handed constructions.
Date
enAugust 2019
Has abstract
enIn sign languages, the term classifier construction (also known as classifier predicates) refers to a morphological system that can express events and states. They use handshape classifiers to represent movement, location, and shape. Classifiers differ from signs in their morphology, namely in that signs consist of a single morpheme. Signs are composed of three meaningless phonological features: handshape, location, and movement. Classifiers, on the other hand, consist of many morphemes. Specifically, the handshape, location, and movement are all meaningful on their own. The handshape represents an entity and the hand's movement iconically represents the movement of that entity. The relative location of multiple entities can be represented iconically in two-handed constructions. Classifiers share some limited similarities with the gestures of hearing non-signers. Those who do not know the sign language can often guess the meaning of these constructions. This is because they are often iconic (non-arbitrary). It has also been found that many unrelated sign languages use similar handshapes for specific entities. Children master these constructions around the age of 8 or 9. Two-handed classifier constructions have a figure-ground relationship. Specifically, the first classifier represents the background whereas the second one represents the entity in focus. The right hemisphere of the brain is involved in using classifiers. They may also be used creatively for story-telling and poetic purposes. coined the word "classifier" in this context in her 1975 paper on American Sign Language. Various connections have been made to classifiers in spoken languages. Linguists have since then debated on how best to analyze these constructions. Analyses differ in how much they rely on morphology to explain them. Some have questioned their linguistic status, as well as the very use of the term "classifier". Not much is known yet about their syntax or phonology.
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Classifier constructions in sign languages
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enClassifier constructions in sign languages
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Adam Schembri
Affix
Agent (grammar)
Agreement (linguistics)
American Sign Language
Anaphora (linguistics)
Aphasia
Argument (linguistics)
Athabaskan languages
Bound and free morphemes
Brenda Schick
British Sign Language
Category:Linguistic morphology
Category:Linguistics
Category:Sign language
Cayuga language
Cerebral hemisphere
Classifier (linguistics)
Colette Grinevald
Dan Slobin
Diegueño language
Direct object
Elisabeth Engberg-Pedersen
Figure–ground (perception)
Fingerspelling
Gesture
Handedness
Handshape
Home sign
Iconicity
Indigenous languages of the Americas
Indirect object
Intransitive verb
Iroquoian languages
Keith Allan (linguist)
Lateralization of brain function
Lexicalization
Mental rotation
Morpheme
Morphology (linguistics)
Nancy Frishberg
Parietal lobe
Phonology
Pronoun
Root (linguistics)
Scott Liddell
Semantics
Sign language
Subject (grammar)
Swedish Sign Language
Syntax
Ted Supalla
Transitive verb
Unaccusative verb
Unergative verb
Ungrammatical
Valency (linguistics)
Verb
Reason
enwhat is a noun class?
SameAs
C1pqo
Q85752735
Классификаторы в жестовых языках
Subject
Category:Linguistic morphology
Category:Linguistics
Category:Sign language
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Classifier constructions in sign languages?oldid=1122498032&ns=0
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