A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS)

As in other sign languages, also in LIS specific spatial means can identify foreground or background information. The first concerns the most highlighted part of the discourse, while the second refers to the less salient stretch of discourse.

         Again, given the visual channel, a simultaneous strategy can be used: the non-dominant hand keeps track of background information, while the dominant hand provides the new and salient information.

         In the following example, the signer keeps the sign for ‘slice of bread’ through the non-dominant hand adding information about the preparation of this bread through the dominant hand.

         ix₁ bread ix₁ CL(unspread 5): ‘cut_the bread’ 

         dom:                                              ix_a ix₁ cheese CL(unspread V): ‘spread_on_a’ then tuna ix₁ CL(flat closed 5): ‘put_tuna_on_a’ then tomato ix₁ put_a CL(curved open L): ‘put_tomato_on_a’ ix₁ 

         n-dom: CL(unspread 5): ‘slice_at_a’---- cheese CL(unspread 5): ‘slice_at_a’--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         dom:    CL(unspread 5): ‘put_slice_on_a’ CL(flat open 5): ‘eat’ delicious not

         n-dom: CL(unspread 5): ‘slice_at_a’-----  CL(flat open 5): ‘eat’

         ‘I cut a loaf of bread in half, there I spread cheese, then I added tuna and some slices of tomato. I ate it, but it was not good!’