8.1. Uses of signing space
Signing space is the three-dimensional area where the hands can move during signing. The spatial locations of referents [Pragmatics - Chapter 1] involve either an abstract or topographical use. Abstract use assigns referents arbitrarily to certain locations. In other words, the meaning of the sentence does not change if a referent is assigned a different location. Topographic use makes an analogy between the spatial arrangement of entities in the real world and that of hands in the signing space. In addition, signing space can be used as a metaphor for the abstract concept time. Certain timelines in signing space are used to express concepts such as past, present, future, before, and after [Morphology – Section 3.2.1.]. Finally, events can be narrated via various perspectives and frames of reference.
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant Agreement No 693349.