Comparing body-part size and shape constructions in village sign languages with co-speech gesture

Author(s):
Nyst, V.A.S. (0000-0002-4671-5349); Tano, A.J.J.
Published
2018
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

Abstract

This article presents a comparison of

constructions used to express size and shape in co-speech gesture and in two

village sign language. The analysis focuses on body part size and shape

constructions found in the gestures of speakers of Anyi (Côte d’Ivoire), in the emerging SL of Bouakako (Côte d’Ivoire), and the older, well-established SL of Adamorobe (Ghana). An analysis in terms of diversity in forms and in combinatorial properties are indicative of grammaticalization and lexicalization taking place over time.

size and shape specifiersWest African sign languagesemerging languages, emergence of linguistic structureAdamorobe Sign LanguageBouakako Sign Languagemeasure stick signsembodimentbody parts
Date issued
2018
Language
English
Is part of
Sign Language Studies (2018), Vol. 18, no. 4, p. 517-545
hdl
1887/73969
doi
10.1353/sls.2018.0015