Choice of classifier handshape in Catalan Sign Language
A corpus study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21239699 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Giorgia Zorzi (0000-0003-2427-2732, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences), Raquel Veiga Busto (0000-0002-0187-6253, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos), Gemma Barberà (0000-0003-0669-7243, Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Alexandra Navarrete-González (0000-0003-4000-5343, Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language), Josep Quer (0000-0001-6466-2749, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-21 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Open Linguistics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2300-9969 • E-ISSN: 2300-9969 |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1515/opli-2025-0051 |
| OpenAlex | W4411505557 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 28 |
Classifier predicates are sign language modality specific constructions that are widely spread in all attested sign languages. Extended research has been devoted to the study of these structures, but many aspects related to their nature remain unclear. This article examines the factors that influence the choice of handshape in classifier predicates referring to anthropomorphic entities in Catalan Sign Language (LSC). We present the results of a corpus study investigating the choice between the 1- and the 2-handshape. Our findings indicate that the choice between these two handshapes is affected by the discourse status of the referent, whether the event encodes manner of motion and whether the action is (un)controlled by the moving referent. Moreover, our study shows that, in LSC, handshapes that are articulatory more complex (e.g. the 2-handshape with respect to the 1-handshape) are used to convey more detailed information about the events and the discourse referents. This accounts for the use of the 2-handshape when manner of motion, in addition to path, is expressed, when referents are maintained in the discourse and when controlled actions expressing the controlled movement of the body and the legs are conveyed
American Sign Language · Catalan · Linguistics · Referent · Sign language · Computer Science · Hand Gesture Recognition Systems · Hearing Impairment and Communication · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Mathematics · Psychology · Artificial Intelligence
Perspectives on Classifier Constructions in Sign Languages
Sign Language and Linguistic Universals
What makes manner of motion salient?
Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4
Classifier handshape choice in Russian Sign Language and Sign Language of the Netherlands
Argument Structure of Classifier Predicates
Path to Realization
Reference to Movement in Spoken and Signed Languages
Argument structure of classifier predicates in Russian Sign Language
Where did all the arguments go
The typology of motion expressions revisited
Comparing Iconicity Trade-Offs in Cena and Libras during a Sign Language Production Task
Valency in classifier predicates
Who's on First? Investigating the referential hierarchy in simple native ASL narratives
Events and telicity in classifier predicates
Cognitive Status and the Form of Referring Expressions in Discourse
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |