A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS)

Interrogative pronouns are used in wh- questions (SYNTAX 1.2.3). They are proforms that replace the information we are asking about.

            LIS displays a large repertory of interrogative pronouns. Although some of them show geographical variation, this section includes the most common interrogative signs.

            Table: Interrogative pronouns

Because of their interrogative nature, these signs are usually accompanied by furrowed eyebrows. It is interesting to observe that if some of these signs are not combined with these special non-manuals they display a change in meaning. For instance, if the last sign of the table above (why) is associated with neutral facial expressions, it does not mean ‘why’, rather ‘because’. 

            It is worth noting the special status of the sign glossed above as when. In the literature, this sign is often known as q_artichoke. From an articulatory point of view, it is produced with a flat closed 5 handshape combined with a downward repeated movement of the forearm or, in its distalised form, a repeated wrist nodding from palm to back. q_artichoke is a particular interrogative pronoun in that it can be used as a lexical variant for all wh- signs. To illustrate, it can replace who (a), what (b), and why (c).

            a.         arrive q_artichoke

            ‘Who arrived?’ (Branchini et al., 2013: 180)

            b.         happen q_artichoke

            ‘What happened?’ (Branchini et al., 2013: 180)

            c.         urgent q_artichoke

            ‘Why was it urgent?’ (Branchini et al., 2013: 180)

Given this polysemy of q_artichoke, LIS signers usually combine this sign with partial or total mouthing (PHONOLOGY 1.5.2), namely the voiceless reproduction of the corresponding Italian wh- words. For example, when q_artichoke replaces why, it might co-occur with the mouthing [p] (initial consonant included in perché, ‘why’).