Causative alternation in Tianjin Sign Language
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Jia He
Abstract
This paper examines the phenomenon of causative alternation in Tianjin Sign Language (TJSL), a variety sign language used by deaf people in Tianjin, China, and addresses the long-standing debate about the relationship between classifier handshape and the verb argument structure of classifier predicates using TJSL data. Initially, we adopt the classifier typology of Benedicto and Brentari (2004) and identify three types of causative alternation in TJSL. First, lexical causatives such as BREAK, which alternate between causative and unaccusative predicates without any change of the verb’s morphological form and in the absence of classifier morphemes. Second, causative-unaccusative alternation in classifier predicates requiring classifier handshape change, namely a handling classifier for transitive predicates and a whole entity classifier for unaccusative predicates. Third, causative-unaccusative alternation in classifier predicates involving no change of classifier handshape and verb root. We argue that neither is the handling classifier a causative marker nor is the whole entity classifier an unaccusative marker in TJSL. Additionally, Benedicto and Brentari’s (2004) proposal that classifier type determines the argument structure of predicates fails to apply to TJSL straightforwardly. The paper also attempts to align the current observations in TJSL with Haspelmath’s (1993) typology of causative alternation in the world’s languages, namely, TJSL displays properties of subtypes of non-directed alternation - labile and equipollent alternation. Such a typological alignment enables us to appreciate the nature of the verb root and the classifier morpheme of classifier predicates in TJSL.
Abstract
This paper examines the phenomenon of causative alternation in Tianjin Sign Language (TJSL), a variety sign language used by deaf people in Tianjin, China, and addresses the long-standing debate about the relationship between classifier handshape and the verb argument structure of classifier predicates using TJSL data. Initially, we adopt the classifier typology of Benedicto and Brentari (2004) and identify three types of causative alternation in TJSL. First, lexical causatives such as BREAK, which alternate between causative and unaccusative predicates without any change of the verb’s morphological form and in the absence of classifier morphemes. Second, causative-unaccusative alternation in classifier predicates requiring classifier handshape change, namely a handling classifier for transitive predicates and a whole entity classifier for unaccusative predicates. Third, causative-unaccusative alternation in classifier predicates involving no change of classifier handshape and verb root. We argue that neither is the handling classifier a causative marker nor is the whole entity classifier an unaccusative marker in TJSL. Additionally, Benedicto and Brentari’s (2004) proposal that classifier type determines the argument structure of predicates fails to apply to TJSL straightforwardly. The paper also attempts to align the current observations in TJSL with Haspelmath’s (1993) typology of causative alternation in the world’s languages, namely, TJSL displays properties of subtypes of non-directed alternation - labile and equipollent alternation. Such a typological alignment enables us to appreciate the nature of the verb root and the classifier morpheme of classifier predicates in TJSL.
Chapters in this book
- 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
Chapters in this book
- 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
