Cross-linguistic variation in space-based distance for size depiction in the lexicons of six sign languages

Abstract

This paper is a semiotic studyof the distribution of a type of size depiction in lexical signs in six signlanguages. Recently, a growing number of studies are focusing on thedistribution of two representation techniques, i.e. the use of entity handshapesand handling handshapes for the depiction of hand-held tools (e.g. Ortega etal. 2014). Padden et al. (2013) find that there is cross-linguistic variationin the use of this pair of representation techniques. This study looks atvariation in a representation technique that has not been systematicallystudied before, i.e. the delimitation of a stretch of space to depict the sizeof a referent, or space-based distancefor size depiction. It considersthe question whether the cross-linguistic variation in the use of thisrepresentation technique is governed by language-specific patterning as well(cf. Padden et al. 2013).

This studyquantifies and compares the occurrence of space-baseddistance for size depiction inthe lexicons of six sign languages, three of Western European origin, and threeof West African origin. It finds that sign languages differ significantly fromeach other in their frequency of use of this depiction type. This result thuscorroborates that the selection and distribution of representation techniquesdoes not solely depend on features of the depicted image, but also onlanguage-specific patterning in the distribution of representation techniques,and it adds another dimension of iconic depiction in which sign languages mayvary from each other (in addition to the entity/handling handshapedistinction). Moreover, the results appear to be areally defined, with thethree European languages using this representation technique significantly moreoften than the three African languages.