A Grammar of Turkish Sign Language (TİD)

5.1.3. Handle classifiers

Handle (or handling) classifiers represent only the part of the object that is handled, for example, the stem of a flower, the handle of a basket, or the handle of a knife.

CL(O):‘give_cigarette’(O-handshape as a handle classifier)

(r.f. Kubus, 2008: 97)

In the figure above, the left hand of the signer in O-handshape indicates that the agent is holding the cigarette and giving it to someone else. In this example, it is the object/theme being manipulated and is expressed through a handle classifier. Handling classifiers are also used to represent instruments (see the figure below). They show how the instrument is manipulated or handled by the hand.

CL (1):‘grate_carrot’

(Özkul 2013:77)

In this example, the right hand of the signer indicates that the carrot is being handled and moved up-and-down across the grater. The left hand of the signer represents the grater which is being held still. This figure also shows that the same type of classifier could be used simultaneously on both hands to indicate different handled objects.

The following table provides a list of attested handle classifier handshapes and their examples in TİD.

Figure	Handshape name	Examples
	Claw-Handshape	small spherical objects
	Fist-Handshape	handling objects (bags, buckets, baggage) and vehicles (i.e. drive)
	Covered-T -andshape	handling objects (tooth brush, a knife, hammer)
	O-Handshape	holding small objects (cigarette, nail, needle)
	Curved-3-Handshape	holding round objects such as round light switches

The list of handle classifier handshapes and their examples (r.f. and adapted from Kubus 2008 and Dikyuva et al 2016: 164)