A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS)

Another important linguistic device for reference tracking is role shift. Role shift (PRAGMATICS 6) is used for referring to a particular participant and assuming his/her perspective. The participant referred to may be some other person or the signer himself/herself in a different time and place.

         Some non-manual markers, such as the temporary interruption of eye contact between signer and interlocutor, indicates that the referential shift is taking place. In case of role shift, no other linguistic strategies are needed: for example, the repetition of the nominal expression denoting the referred entity is possible, but not necessary. An example of role shift is reported below and highlighted in bold.

                                                                   rs: bear

         bear CL(closed 5): ‘bear_lumber’

         ‘The bear is lumbering.’                                                                                                           

In LIS, the specific use of squint eyes accompanying topic expressions (PRAGMATICS 4.3.2) seems to highlight that the entity the signer is presenting has been previously introduced into the discourse. However, this marker also suggests that the referent is no longer easily accessible in the mind of the interlocutor. An example of this use is reported below.

                                sq                

         man ix(dem) ix_{1 3}tell₁ everything

         ‘The man (you know) has told me everything.’