Continuous vs. Repetitive inflection in ASL

[Ronnie Wilbur]

Don,

Could you help further?  How does 'durative' differ semantically from
'continuative'?

Thanks,

Ronnie

P.S.  For those interested, formationally, the differences are shown in
pictures on p. 293 of Klima & Bellugi 'Signs of Lg'.



At 08:23 AM 5/7/99 -0700, you wrote:
>-----Original Message-----
>>I was just wondering if anyone had a feeling about the difference between
>>continuous and repetitive inflections in ASL with signs such as 'kill'
>>
>>For example, what would be the difference semantically if I were to sign:
>>
>>1. THE MAN KILLED-rep
>>
>>2. THE MAN KILLED-cont
>>
>
>I'm not exactly sure what you want to know, but in number 1, semantically,
>it would mean the man "killed over and over", as in a serial killer.    In
>number 2, it would mean the man "kept on killing", as in going on a killing
>spree, a la Cunanan or the psycho boys of Littleton.
>
>--Donald Grushkin
>
>
Ronnie Wilbur, Ph.D., Professor of Linguistics                  wilbur at omni.cc.purdue.edu
ASL Linguistics Research Laboratory                             (765) 494-3822
Interdepartmental Program in Linguistics and                    fax (765) 494-0771
        Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1353