A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS)

Some instances of movement reduction or extension can involve a joint shift. This shift can occur in two directions: either to a joint closer to the signer's torso (i.e. proximalisation) or to a joint that is further away from the signer's torso (i.e. distalisation).

            On the one hand, proximalisation results in movement extension, since the sign is produced by a bigger articulator. An example of proximalisation is the LIS sign cherry. This sign iconically derives from Italian children's habit to tuck bunches of cherries behind their ears. For this reason, its original form required the index and middle fingers to grasp the back of the ear. For ease of perception, the grasping component is usually substituted by a movement at the wrist or even elbow joint.

 

 

 

            a.         cherry (original form)

            (based on Radutzky, 2009: 28)

 

 

 

            b.         cherry (proximalisation)

            (based on Radutzky, 2009: 28)

 

Other signs undergoing a similar process of proximalisation are birthday and hearing_aid.

            Proximalisation can also be used to express particular emphasis. This is exemplified below by the sign fun: in its citation form, the movement is realised at the wrist joint (a), while in the emphasized form, the movement can be realised at the elbow joint (b).

 

 

 

            a.         fun (citation form)

            (based on Mantovan, Giustolisi, Panzeri, 2019: 56)

 

 

 

            b.         fun (proximalisation)

            (based on Mantovan, Giustolisi, Panzeri, 2019: 56)

 

On the other hand, distalisation results in movement reduction, since the sign is produced by a smaller articulator. An example of distalisation is the LIS sign volleyball. In the citation form, this sign is articulated with a repeated forward movement realised at the elbow joint (a). This type of movement iconically reflects the way volleyball players use their arms to pass the ball. An alternative version of volleyball employs a more distal movement, realised at the wrist joint (b).

 

 

 

            a.         volleyball (citation form)

            (based on Quer et al., 2017: Phonology, 57)

 

 

 

            b.         volleyball (distalisation)

            (based on Quer et al., 2017: Phonology, 57) 

 

From a purely articulatory perspective, moving distal joints (e.g. finger knuckles) generally requires less physical effort than moving proximal joints (e.g. shoulder and elbow). To favour ease of articulation, signers tend to use distal articulation more often than proximal articulation. However, it must be noted that distal movements require more motor skills and control than proximal movements.