5.1.3. Handle classifiers
Handle (also called handling) classifiers denote entities by referring to the part or the way in which they are handled. They combine with verbs referring to the holding or to the manipulated motion of referents. Since handling and holding imply the presence of an agent manipulating an object, they form transitive predicates. Handshapes denoting objects used as instruments belong to this category as well. The present table provides a list of handshapes functioning as handle classifiers in LIS, which will be described below.
Table: List of handshapes that can appear in handle classifiers in LIS
The G handshape can denote instruments such as knives, screwdrivers or toothbrushes.
CL(G): ‘brush_teeth’
‘Brushing teeth.’
Curved open G and curved open V are used to indicate that an object is hung somewhere. The example refers to a painting hanging to a nail on the wall.
painting CL(curved open G): ‘hang_ painting_with_nail’
‘Hanging a painting.’
Handshape F indicates the handling of thin and light entities (pens, pencils, flowers, papers, thin books).
book CL(F): ‘take_thin_book’
‘Taking a thin book (from the bookshelf).’
Flat closed 5 is used to convey the holding of flat and light objects such as sheets, as in the example below.
sheet CL(flat closed 5): ‘hold_sheet’
‘(The child is) holding the sheet.’
Flat open 5, more or less open, and unspread curved open 5 are used for three-dimensional thick objects (big books, bricks, boxes, pipes, cups).
book CL(F): ‘take_thick_book’
‘Taking a thick book (from the bookshelf).’
Closed 5 mainly denotes the handling of bags and suitcases (this is also an example of lexicalized classifier defining the lexical sign for suitcase or bag, see LEXICON 1.3.1).
CL(closed 5): ‘hold_suitcase’
‘Picking up a (heavy) suitcase.’
Closed G can be used to refer to small objects used as instruments such as keys, toothbrushes, wooden spoons or small paint brushes. Furthermore, it can denote doors being opened (a), paintings being hung up (b), or the holding of a newspaper (c).
a. door CL(closed G): ‘handle_door’
‘Opening the door.’
b. painting CL(closed G): ‘hang_painting’
‘Hanging a painting.’
c. dom: read
n-dom: CL(closed G): ‘hold_newspaper’
‘Reading the newspaper.’
Unspread 5 can be used to refer to paint-brushes used as instruments.
L can be employed as handling classifier for two-dimensional thin and light objects such as mirrors, as in the example below.
mirror CL(L): ‘pick_up_square_mirror’
‘Picking up the square mirror.’
Curved closed 5 can be used as handle classifier for three dimensional cylindrical objects such as pipes or table legs. In the example below, the signer is holding the central pedestal of a small table.
CL(curved closed 5): ‘hold_pedestal’
‘Holding the pedestal.’
