Syntax and prosodic consequences in ASL
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Sarah Churng
Abstract
This study investigates three different multiple wh-question types in American Sign Language (ASL). While the three are strikingly similar, subtle but systematic differences in their prosody make them semantically distinct. I derive these distinctions from their syntax, via extensions of Koopman and Szabolcsi’s (2000) remnant movement and Sportiche’s (1988) stranded movement, and I propose that multiple wh-questions in ASL involve Parallel Merge structures of the kind proposed by Citko (2005). I also present new generalizations to characterize their prosody, whereby A-bar movement gives rise to prosodic breaks and ‘prosodic resets’.
Abstract
This study investigates three different multiple wh-question types in American Sign Language (ASL). While the three are strikingly similar, subtle but systematic differences in their prosody make them semantically distinct. I derive these distinctions from their syntax, via extensions of Koopman and Szabolcsi’s (2000) remnant movement and Sportiche’s (1988) stranded movement, and I propose that multiple wh-questions in ASL involve Parallel Merge structures of the kind proposed by Citko (2005). I also present new generalizations to characterize their prosody, whereby A-bar movement gives rise to prosodic breaks and ‘prosodic resets’.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Nonmanuals in sign languages 1
- Syntax and prosodic consequences in ASL 7
- Negation in Turkish Sign Language 47
- Eye gaze and verb agreement in German Sign Language 73
- Mouth gestures in British Sign Language 91
- Nonmanual markings for topic constructions in Hong Kong Sign Language 111
- Nonmanuals, semantic operators, domain marking, and the solution to two outstanding puzzles in ASL 143
- Linguistics as structure in computer animation 175
- Index 195
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Nonmanuals in sign languages 1
- Syntax and prosodic consequences in ASL 7
- Negation in Turkish Sign Language 47
- Eye gaze and verb agreement in German Sign Language 73
- Mouth gestures in British Sign Language 91
- Nonmanual markings for topic constructions in Hong Kong Sign Language 111
- Nonmanuals, semantic operators, domain marking, and the solution to two outstanding puzzles in ASL 143
- Linguistics as structure in computer animation 175
- Index 195
