A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS)

A few handshapes are limited to specific domains. This is the case of handshapes appearing in: i) fingerspelled words, ii) lexicalised signs derived from fingerspelling, and iii) lexicalised signs derived from classifier constructions. Illustrative examples are provided below. No particular handshapes are exclusively used in number signs.

            Some handshapes are exclusively used in borrowings from Italian, namely in fingerspelled words and signs derived from fingerspelling. In fingerspelled words, each letter of the Italian word is fingerspelled one after the other (LEXICON 2.2.2). In signs derived from fingerspelling, the handshape typically corresponds to the first letter of the Italian translation of the sign (LEXICON 2.2.2.1). The handshapes that are exclusively used in fingerspelled words and signs derived from fingerspelling are shown and described below.

 

            Table: Handshapes limited to fingerspelling

 

Handshape D (new version) and handshape P (same handshape but with different orientation) is realised by extending the index and partially bending the other fingers so that the thumb touches the middle. Handshape D is realised with outward palm orientation and is found in the initialized sign sunday (Ita. domenica), as shown in (a). Handshape P is realised with downward palm orientation and is found in the initialised sign powerpoint, as shown in (b).

 

            

            a.         sunday - new sign (handshape D, new version)

 

            

            b.         powerpoint (handshape P)

 

Handshape D (old version) is realised by bending the middle over the index. Notice that this handshape was used to represent D in the old manual alphabet and it appears in the old initialised sign sunday (Ita. domenica).

 

            

            sunday - old sign (handshape D, old version)

 

Handshape E is realised by bending and hooking all the fingers. It is found in the initialised sign europe (Ita. Europa).

 

            

            europe (handshape E)

 

Handshape K is realised by extending the index, bending the middle at base joint, and extending the thumb so that it touches the base of the middle. It is found in the sign ok.

 

            

            ok (handshape K)

 

Handshape R is realised by crossing the middle over the index and it is used in the initialised sign record.

 

            

            record (handshape R)

 

Handshape T is realised by bending the index at base joint and extending the thumb so that it touches the base of the index. No initialised signs have been found with this handshape.

            Handshape W is realised by extending index, middle, and ring. Because of its articulatory complexity, it is not frequently used by LIS signers. In borrowings from English (LEXICON 2.2), the handshape W can be replaced by handshape 4 for ease of articulation (as in the sign workshop).

 

            

            a.         workshop (handshape W)

 

            

            b.         workshop (handshape 4)

 

Some handshapes are exclusively, or almost exclusively, found in signs derived from classifiers. Notice that, in some cases, the distinction between core lexical elements (LEXICON 1.1) and classifiers (LEXICON 1.2.1) may not be straightforward. This set of handshapes usually represent the referent in the way it looks (Size-and-Shape-Specifiers, MORPHOLOGY 5.2) or is handled (handle classifiers, MORPHOLOGY 5.1.3). The handshapes that are mostly used in signs derived from classifiers are shown and described below.

 

            Table: Handshapes limited to classifiers

 

Flat open L appears in signs referring to thin rectangular objects (e.g. ticket, film, and collar).

 

            

            collar (flat open L)

 

Flat closed L appears in signs referring to small sharp objects (e.g. pencil, match, and woodpecker).

 

            

            woodpecker (flat closed L)

 

Flat open 3 appears in signs referring to little thin objects (e.g. chess).

 

            

            chess (flat open 3)

 

Flat closed 3 appears in signs referring to small objects handled by the hand (e.g. make_up and pen).

 

            

            pen (flat closed 3)

 

Flat open 5 appears in signs referring to voluminous rectangular objects (e.g. watermelon, radiator, and videotape).

 

            

            videotape (flat open 5)

 

Curved open 5 [-S]: this handshape appears in signs referring to round objects (e.g. drinking_glass, bottle, and tube).

 

            

            drinking_glass (curved open 5 [-S])

 

Curved closed 5 appears in signs referring to small-diameter round objects (e.g. spyglass and cigar).

 

            

            spyglass (curved closed 5)