Topics in the Grammar of Spanish Sign Language (LSE)

LSE has two possessive pronouns, poss and own, which can be used in both attributive and predicative possession. Example (a) illustrates the use of poss to express a possessive relation within the noun phrase (attributive possession), while in (b) own is used predicatively.

 

 a)      car poss₁ blue.

         ‘My car is blue.’

(Fernández Landaluce, 2016: 230)

b)      things all ix++ own++. ix ix ix ix own++.

         ‘All these things are mine. This, that and that are mine.’

(Fernández Landaluce, 2016: 236)

Possessive relations in first person are expressed with the sign own, which is articulated with a flat hand making contact with the signer’s chest.

First person possessive

Possessive relations in second and third person are expressed with the possessive pronoun poss. poss has two variants: one with the y-handshape –as in examples (a) and (c)– and the other with x –as in examples (b) and (d)–. Both second and third person can be either one-handed or two-handed.

 

                                          

a) Second person possessive with y-handshape      b) Second person possessive with x-handshape

 

                                

c) Third person possessive with y-handshape       d) Third person possessive with x-handshape

 

Plural possessives are formed compositionally, with the possessive form poss following the plural pronominal sign.

a)     ix₁pl-incl poss₁ casa

           ‘Our house’

(Fernández Landaluce, 2016: 230)

b)      ix₂pl poss₂ casa

           ‘Your.pl house’

(Fernández Landaluce, 2016: 230)

c)      ix₃pl poss₃ casa

          ‘Their house’                                    

(Fernández Landaluce, 2016: 230)

Second and third person forms can also be expressed by preposing a singular, a plural or a dual personal pronoun to the sign own.

            ix₂ own car

            ‘Your.sg car’

                                                                                   (Fernández Landaluce, 2016: 229)

Additionally, the sign own can also be used as a construction marker.

        key own bank

        ‘The bank’s key’

(Rodríguez González, 1992) 

Apart from the use of poss and own, possessive relations in LSE can also be expressed by personal pronouns, particularly when referring to body parts, physical states or kinship terms.

        ix₃ ix₁ sibling-female work lawyer.

        ‘My sister is a lawyer.’

            (Costello, 2015: 171)

If the context makes the possessive relation clear, both possessive and personal pronouns can be dropped.

            car broken.

            ‘My car is broken.’

            ‘His car (of the person the conversation is about) is broken.’

(Fernández Landaluce, 2016: 230)

As for the position of the possessive in the noun phrase, it can appear either preposed or postposed to the possessed noun. 

 a)      poss₁ car blue.

           ‘My car is blue.’

(Fernández Landaluce, 2016: 230)

b)      car poss₁ blue.

         ‘My car is blue.’

(Fernández Landaluce, 2016: 230)