A Grammar of Catalan Sign Language (LSC)

In LSC pointing signs have a variety of functions. Namely, they can function as personal pronouns [LEXICON 3.7.2] – as in example (a) below –, demonstratives [LEXICON 3.7.1] – as in example (b) –, possessives [LEXICON 3.7.3] – as in (c) –, determiners [LEXICON 3.6] – as in (d) –, locatives [LEXICON 3.7.1] – as in example (e) – or agreement markers [LEXICON 3.3.4] – as in (f) –.

                  re

            a) ix_3a, ix₁ like.

               ‘I liked it.’

(based on Barberà, 2012: 92)

 

            b) Context: while referring to a present book.

        ix_3a book name title pyjama cl(v): ‘stripes’.

               ‘The name of this book is “The boy in the striped pyjamas”.’

(based on Barberà, 2012: 92)

                                                                re

            c) delfina ix_{3a book interesting.}

               ‘Delfina's book is interesting.’

(based on Barberà, 2012: 92)

            d) ix_3a book interesting.

               ‘The book is interesting.’                                

(based on Barberà, 2012: 92)

            e) book ix₃.

               ‘The book is there.’                                         

(based on Barberà, 2012: 119)

            f) ix₁ think woman ix_{3 3}aux₂ forget.

   ‘I think she has already forgotten you.’        

(recreated from Quer et al., 2005)

The most common handshape is the index finger. However, in LSC is also possible to point manually by using other configurations such as 2  or x. Besides manual pointing signs, non-manual elements, such as eye gaze, body movements or head tilts, alone or in combination with signs, can be directed towards a location to refer to present or non-present entities [LEXICON 3.7].