3.7.7. Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are those that can be translated as ‘someone’ or ‘somebody’. See [Pragmatics - 1.3.] for an explanation of indefiniteness.
In TİD, a number of simple and complex signs are used as indefinite pronouns. They are usually accompanied by a certain set of non-manual markers: brow furrowing, lowered mouth corners, and averted eye gaze.
Some of the simple signs are one[ipsi_up], one[centre_low] and other. These are homophonous with some of the indefinite determiners. Thus, they can also be analyzed as noun phrases formed with an indefinite determiner and an unpronounced noun with the meaning ‘person’. For the description of the articulation of these signs, see [Lexicon - 3.6.2].
one[ipsi_up]
'someone'
(r.f. Kelepir et al. 2018a: 270)
one[centre_low] has the 1-handshape and is signed in the lower part of the central space. See [Pragmatics - 1.3.] for possible contexts where this indefinite pronoun is used.
one[centre_low]
‘someone’
other
‘someone’
book ıx1 take^not other take.
'I didn't take the book. Someone else took.'
There are also some complex signs that are formed with more than one sign and can contain one, other, one[ipsi_up], person, or c_person. Visual examples of one, person and c_person are given below:
one
person has the Narrowed-O-handshape and is articulated on the cheek on the ipsilateral side with one quick movement.
person
c_person, has the C-handshape and is articulated with a downward movement in the frontal plane.
c_person
The following illustrate some possible forms. They all have the meaning ‘someone’:
one^ person^ c_person
other ^one ^c_person
‘someone’
one[ipsi_up]^person^c_person
person^c_person ‘someone’
one^person ‘someone’
one^c_person ‘someone’
one^other ‘someone’
The most prominent interpretation of the pronominal forms with one[ipsi_up] and other is non-specific indefinite. See [Pragmatics - 1.4.] for a description of specific vs. non-specific indefinites.
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