Presented to you through Paradigm Publishing Services

John Benjamins Publishing Company

Visit our Partner Page See all our books
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Chapter 4. Constructing sentences

Pointing, describing and depicting
  • , , and

Abstract

In this chapter, the modifications of meaning units are described. Patterns characterizing the various signs modifications along a continuum ranging from the semantic to the pragmatic dimension are illustrated. Signers modify and create linguistic relations among signs by using their hands as well as their entire bodies to point at, to describe or to depict the referent. Consequently, the construction of discourse and conversation in LIS are described, taking into consideration their articulatory, cognitive, and semantic-pragmatic constraints of a sociolinguistic nature.

Abstract

In this chapter, the modifications of meaning units are described. Patterns characterizing the various signs modifications along a continuum ranging from the semantic to the pragmatic dimension are illustrated. Signers modify and create linguistic relations among signs by using their hands as well as their entire bodies to point at, to describe or to depict the referent. Consequently, the construction of discourse and conversation in LIS are described, taking into consideration their articulatory, cognitive, and semantic-pragmatic constraints of a sociolinguistic nature.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. From spoken to signed languages back and forth, between cognition and semiotics 1
  4. Chapter 1. Historical steps towards a new description of sign languages 7
  5. Chapter 2. The community 35
  6. Chapter 3. The basic units of LIS 63
  7. Chapter 4. Constructing sentences 101
  8. Chapter 5. Variation and change in LIS 133
  9. Chapter 6. Sign languages and spoken languages 165
  10. References 191
  11. Index 217
Italian Sign Language from a Cognitive and Socio-semiotic Perspective
This chapter is in the book Italian Sign Language from a Cognitive and Socio-semiotic Perspective
https://doi.org/10.1075/gs.9.c4

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. From spoken to signed languages back and forth, between cognition and semiotics 1
  4. Chapter 1. Historical steps towards a new description of sign languages 7
  5. Chapter 2. The community 35
  6. Chapter 3. The basic units of LIS 63
  7. Chapter 4. Constructing sentences 101
  8. Chapter 5. Variation and change in LIS 133
  9. Chapter 6. Sign languages and spoken languages 165
  10. References 191
  11. Index 217
Downloaded on 12.4.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/gs.9.c4/html
Scroll to top button