A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS)

The degree or intensity of the adjective can be encoded through the simultaneous modification of the sign for the adjective. This can be done by modifying its manual articulation and/or by adding specific non-manual markers simultaneously occurring with it. In LIS, intensive and approximative modifications can be observed. In what follows, we present the manual and non-manual strategies conveying these meanings.

         The intensive modification is used to express a high degree on the semantic scale of the adjective. The form of the adjectival sign is usually modified in the movement component: i) it can be slower, and slightly hold at the beginning of the articulation, and ii) it can be larger or restricted. If the adjective is a one-handed sign in its citation form, the non-dominant hand may become active to copy the dominant hand. Such phonological addition is another strategy to reflect intensive meaning. The non-manuals that are usually adopted to convey intensification are furrowed eyebrows (fe) and wide-open eyes (we). To illustrate these manual and non-manual strategies, compare the citation form of the adjective strong (a) with its intensified version (b).

 

 

 

         a.            strong

 

 

 

                                      we

                                       fe

         b.            strong

         ‘Very strong’

 

To express a high degree of intensification, the beginning of the sign might be characterized by a long tense hold and closed eyes (ce), as shown below.

 

 

 

            ce   we

            good

         ‘Very good’

 

A special case that needs to be mentioned is the sign beautiful. Apparently, this is the only adjective in LIS whose form can be modified by a manual bound morpheme to convey intensive meaning. For more details, see MORPHOLOGY 2.1.1.

         On the other hand, the approximative modification is used to express a low degree on the semantic scale of the adjective. It usually affects the movement component of the sign, making it look restricted and more relaxed. If the adjective is a two-handed sign in its citation form, the non-dominant hand may undergo weak hand drop (PHONOLOGY 3.1.4). Such phonological reduction is another strategy to reflect approximative meaning. The non-manuals that are usually adopted to convey approximation are squint eyes (sq) and sometimes raised eyebrows (re). To illustrate these manual and non-manual strategies, compare the citation form of the adjective mischievous (a) with its approximative version (b).

 

 

 

         a.            mischievous

 

 

 

                                                sq

                                                re

         b.            mischievous

         ‘Sort of mischievous’