A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS)

Sometimes, LIS signers may realise two-handed signs by using the dominant hand only. This phenomenon involving articulatory reduction is usually referred to as weak hand drop. This phonological process is optional and, according to our informants, it is typically observed in rapid or relaxed signing. An example of weak hand drop in LIS is provided below.

 

 

 

            a.         life (citation form) 

 

 

 

            b.         life (weak hand drop)

 

The citation form of the sign life requires both hands to move downward on the signer’s torso, as shown in (a) above. As a result of weak hand drop, this sign can be realised with the dominant hand only, as in (b) above, with no change in meaning. Another two-handed sign that can undergo weak hand drop is dirty. In the examples above showing weak hand drop, the sign life is realised with the right hand by a right-handed signer, while the sign dirty is realised with the left hand by a left-handed signer.

 

 

 

            a.         dirty (citation form)

 

 

 

            b.         dirty (weak hand drop)

 

Weak hand drop in LIS is constrained by both phonological and semantic factors. From a phonological perspective, this process is observed more frequently in symmetrical two-handed signs (PHONOLOGY 1.4.1), i.e. signs in which both hands move, such as life and dirty. Some of the signs belonging to this category, such as kitchen, involve alternating movement, rather than synchronic movement of the hands. In these cases, weak hand drop is unlikely to occur.

 

 

 

            kitchen

 

Weak hand drop appears to be more constrained in asymmetrical two-handed signs (PHONOLOGY 1.4.2), i.e. signs in which the weak hand does not move and serves as location. For example, the asymmetrical sign sister cannot be phonologically reduced by weak hand drop.

 

 

 

            sister

 

However, it should be noted that other asymmetrical two-handed signs seem to allow the deletion of the non-dominant hand. Further research is needed to identify the phonological constraints at play.

            Deletion of the weak hand in two-handed signs might be constrained by semantic factors as well. For instance, if the sign conceptually involves two referents or two objects, such as ice_skate (shown below), together, and fight, then one-handed realisation is not allowed.

 

 

 

            ice_skate

 

Weak hand drop is usually blocked if the use of the two hands is iconically motivated. For example, the sign ten is realised by extending ten fingers and hence requires the use of both hands.

 

 

 

            ten