Plain verbs in signed languages

[Denise]

In American Sign Language, verbs move. The movement itself contains a great
amount of information. If want to show that I will go from my house to the
bank and then to the library, these three locations are first established in
the signing space. How I sign the verb 'go-to' then will show where I
started from; went to; and where I ended up. Without changing the three
locations already established, I can then change the starting and ending
points, using the exact same 'go-to' verb and movement and completely change
the meaning of the signed sentence.

 

Denise Wetzler, M. Ed.

ASL Interpreter

Nationally Certified,

Arizona Licensed

 

  _____  

From: slling-l-bounces at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
[mailto:slling-l-bounces at majordomo.valenciacc.edu] On Behalf Of Dan I.
Slobin
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 5:48 AM
To: A list for linguists interested in signed languages
Cc: Nini Hoiting
Subject: Re: [SLLING-L] Plain verbs in signed languages

 

By defnition, a "plain verb" is one that cannot move in space, and so it
cannot mark agreement and spatial locations in itself.  But in many sign
languages (including Sign Language of the Netherlands, Taiwanese Sign
Language, and others), there are "auxiliary" verbs that accompany a "plain"
verb.  Such accompanying verbs do move in space to indicate relations such
as source-goal, agent-patient, and so forth.

Dan Slobin

At 08:10 PM 1/5/2008, you wrote:



Dear all,
 
I am a research student who works on Hong Kong Sign Language. My focus of
study is verbs. I would like to confirm if plain verbs are generally
unmarked for verb agreement and spatial locations. 
 
I can post a summary. 
 
Thanks a lot.
 
Scholastica
scholalam at yahoo.com.hk
The Chinese University of Hong Kong 

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