Movement and Handshape as elements for word-formation in Catalan Sign Language (LSC)

What is it about?

Building upon prior lexicalist approaches, this paper explores simultaneous derivation in Catalan Sign Language (LSC). To do so, handshape and movement parameters are examined when functioning as simultaneous derivational affixes in the phonological and morphological interfaces. The study draws upon our manually constructed, non-automated LSC corpus, comprising 456 signs, and follows the integrated morphological model of Villaécija (2023). Like in other sign and spoken languages, LSC exhibits derivational bound morphemes with distinct structures from inflection. Modality allows the integration of multiple morphemes in a non-concatenative way, which demonstrates that in LSC morphological and phonological interfaces are tightly interrelated.

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Photo by Amador Loureiro on Unsplash

Photo by Amador Loureiro on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research provides valuable insights into theoretical morphological concepts in sign linguistics and draws parallels with both sign language and spoken language morphology.