A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS)

Alternative interrogatives present two or more options for the reply. The following are different realisations of alternative interrogatives.

 

 

 

                                                            y/n

         a.            want coffee or tea

         ‘Do you prefer coffee or tea?’

 

 

 

                                                                   wh

         b.            coffee tea want which

         ‘Do you prefer coffee or tea?’

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                   y/n

         c.            dom:            ix_[thumb] ice_cream ix_[index] water ix_[thumb] ix_[index] want which

                        n-dom: two--------------------------------

         ‘Do you prefer ice cream or water?’

 

An example of indirect alternative interrogative is provided below.

 

 

 

                                                                                        wh

         gianni_a ix_{1 1}ask_3a want which tea or coffee

         ‘I asked Gianni whether he prefers coffee or tea.’