Classifiers and gender in Korean Sign Language
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Ki-Hyun Nam
Abstract
This chapter notices the agreement phenomena for classifier verb in Korean Sign Language (KSL). KSL expresses two types of gender, male and female: one with only the thumb out of the fist and the other with only the pinky out. In KSL, the gender handshape productively combines with not only kinship terms, name signs, agreement verbs but also with classifier verbs. In sign language the research on agreement has focused on the person features of agreement verbs. However, there has never been a case where gender agreement and classifier verbs were studied empirically. The contribution of this chapter is a close examination of the main characteristics of the gender agreement of classifier verbs. We discuss major characteristics of the classifier verbs and argument agreement phenomena in KSL, associating them with general agreement phenomena of sign language. We look at factors for selecting the gender handshape of classifier verbs. The hope is that this research on classifier verbs and gender agreement phenomena will contribute to the cross-linguistic studies of the agreement and gender marker in sign language in general.
Abstract
This chapter notices the agreement phenomena for classifier verb in Korean Sign Language (KSL). KSL expresses two types of gender, male and female: one with only the thumb out of the fist and the other with only the pinky out. In KSL, the gender handshape productively combines with not only kinship terms, name signs, agreement verbs but also with classifier verbs. In sign language the research on agreement has focused on the person features of agreement verbs. However, there has never been a case where gender agreement and classifier verbs were studied empirically. The contribution of this chapter is a close examination of the main characteristics of the gender agreement of classifier verbs. We discuss major characteristics of the classifier verbs and argument agreement phenomena in KSL, associating them with general agreement phenomena of sign language. We look at factors for selecting the gender handshape of classifier verbs. The hope is that this research on classifier verbs and gender agreement phenomena will contribute to the cross-linguistic studies of the agreement and gender marker in sign language in general.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
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Part 1: Manuals: Numerals, classifiers, modal verbs
- Historical relationships between numeral signs in Japanese Sign Language, South Korean Sign Language and Taiwan Sign Language 5
- Phonological processes in complex word formation in Shanghai Sign Language 37
- Classifiers and gender in Korean Sign Language 71
- Causative alternation in Tianjin Sign Language 101
- Epistemic modal verbs and negation in Japanese Sign Language 137
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Part 2: Non-manuals and space
- The Korean Sign Language (KSL) corpus and its first application on a study about mouth actions 169
- Negative polar questions in Hong Kong Sign Language 203
- Analyzing head nod expressions by L2 learners of Japanese Sign Language: A comparison with native Japanese Sign Language signers 241
- Composite utterances in Taiwan Sign Language 263
- Time and timelines in Tibetan Sign Language (TSL) interactions in Lhasa 311
- Index 347
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1: Manuals: Numerals, classifiers, modal verbs
- Historical relationships between numeral signs in Japanese Sign Language, South Korean Sign Language and Taiwan Sign Language 5
- Phonological processes in complex word formation in Shanghai Sign Language 37
- Classifiers and gender in Korean Sign Language 71
- Causative alternation in Tianjin Sign Language 101
- Epistemic modal verbs and negation in Japanese Sign Language 137
-
Part 2: Non-manuals and space
- The Korean Sign Language (KSL) corpus and its first application on a study about mouth actions 169
- Negative polar questions in Hong Kong Sign Language 203
- Analyzing head nod expressions by L2 learners of Japanese Sign Language: A comparison with native Japanese Sign Language signers 241
- Composite utterances in Taiwan Sign Language 263
- Time and timelines in Tibetan Sign Language (TSL) interactions in Lhasa 311
- Index 347
