Chapter 8. Signing space
Signing space, which is a three-dimensional area in front of the body of the signer, is used to articulate signs as well as to realize grammatical features and various semantic and pragmatic aspects of meaning. Referential meaning is conveyed by associating discourse referents with areas in this space. Signing space is used in two forms to utilize referent-location associations, abstract space and topographic space. In abstract use, spatial locations do not carry any meaning and are assigned arbitrarily to discourse referents. By contrast, when referent-location associations are meaningful, such that they are projected directly from real or imaginary space to the signing space, topographic space is used. Change of the locations in space effects the meaning in the topographic but not abstract arrangement of space. Moreover, signing space can be used for expression of the temporal units on imaginary time lines extending on horizontal, vertical or diagonal axes. Spatial relations between various entities can be expressed from different perspectives and frames of references, which as well are realized in the signing space.