Affiliation:
1. The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Abstract
Abstract
As most other sign languages, Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL) makes use of verbal classifiers for the purpose of spatial predication. However, a thorough study of the Asian SignBank shows that these same classifier handshapes occur in 76% of all HKSL nouns. In this paper, I argue that these classifier handshapes embedded in nouns are in fact noun classifiers. Under the framework of Distributed Morphology, classifier handshapes are underspecified roots in root compounds which can be assigned the nominal category when merged with a nominal functional head in syntax. The function of these classifiers is to identify, and categorize a discourse referent, and they are full-fledged classifiers according to standards set by the general linguistic literature on classifiers. In addition to verbal and noun classifiers, I also briefly show how HKSL uses mensural numeral classifiers to intervene between mass nouns and numerals within the NP. Taken together, this means that HKSL employs three different types of classifiers: verbal, noun, and numeral classifiers.
Publisher
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Subject
Linguistics and Language,Language and Linguistics
Reference45 articles.
1. Towards a theory of natural classification;Adams;Papers from the Ninth Regional Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society,1973
2. Noun Phrase in the Generative Perspective
3. Classifiers
4. Where did all the arguments go?: argument-changing properties of classifiers in asl