The effect of linguistic and social factors on handshape choice in classifier verbs in Nepali Sign Language (NSL)

Abstract

In sign languages, classifier verbs are polymorphemic constructions that express motion events, spatial relations, and handling of objects (Supalla, Ted. 1982. Structure and acquisition of verbs of motion and location in American Sign Language . San Diego: PhD, University of California. https://www.proquest.com/docview/303234697/abstract/BB45DDF2DC68401EPQ/1 ; Zwitserlood, Inge. 2012. Classifiers. In Roland Pfau, Markus Steinbach & Bencie Woll (eds.), Sign language . De Gruyter). Whole-entity classifiers (WECL) represent entire referents, such as humans, animals, and vehicles in motion events. This study examines linguistic and social factors influencing the choice of two handshapes (1-hs, 2-hs) in WECL for animate referents in Nepali Sign Language (NSL), which emerged with the establishment of deaf education in Kathmandu in 1966 (Acharya, Kiran. 1997. History of the deaf in Nepal . (E. Hoffmann-Dilloway & D. Chemjong Trans). Unpublished manuscript). We analysed 467 instances of WECL from Canary Row retellings by 12 deaf NSL signers (six younger, six older participants). Using Rbrul software, our findings show that the linguistic factors manner versus path, controlled versus uncontrolled actions, and the presence of the non-dominant hand representing an animate versus inanimate referent significantly influence handshape choice, while discourse status does not. Social factors (age, age of sign language acquisition, and gender) had no statistical effect, though older signers tended to display a greater variety of handshapes. This study contributes to our understanding of classifier verbs in an under-documented Asian sign language, showing that the use of the 1-hs and the 2-hs for animate referents is extremely common across sign languages but also revealing the importance of linguistic factors that constrain and shape handshape choice.