A Grammar of Catalan Sign Language (LSC)

3.3.2.3. Completive

Completive aspect refers to the result of a finished action. In order to express this meaning LSC uses the sign already, which is most of the times placed after the verbal form.

 

            morning shower already.

            ‘I had a shower this morning.’

(recreated from Quer et al., 2005)

 

However, the sign already may appear in different positions depending on different aspects. An overview of the different positions of the sign already is offered in the syntax part [SYNTAX 6.4.2.4]

 

Furthermore, it is important to note that this type of aspect does not always refer to actions or events that occurred in the past, as shown in the example below.

           

            next sunday come+++ already food serve+++.

‘Next Sunday, as soon as everyone has arrived, we will start serving.’

(recreated from Quer et al., 2005)

 

This meaning can be expressed sometimes by the signs finish and end, which are placed after the verb.

 

 

 

a)    ix1 work end.

‘I finished work.’

(recreated from Quer et al., 2005)

 

 

 

b)    holidays over.

‘Holidays are over.’

(recreated from Quer et al., 2005)

 

It can also be marked by executing the sign faster than usual ending the articulation of the movement in a brusque manner, as shown in the examples below.

 

a)    ix3 dizzy faint.

‘All of a sudden she fainted and fell.’

(recreated from Quer et al., 2005)

 

b)    television cl(C): ‘television switching off’.

‘The television switched off.’

(recreated from Quer et al., 2005)

 

 

List of editors

Josep Quer and Gemma Barberà

Copyright info

© 2020 Gemma Barberà, Sara Cañas-Peña, Berta Moya-Avilés, Alexandra Navarrete-González, Josep Quer, Raquel Veiga Busto, Aida Villaécija, Giorgia Zorzi

Bibliographical reference for citation

The entire grammar:
Quer, Josep and Gemma Barberà (eds.). 2020. A Grammar of Catalan Sign Language (LSC). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series). (www.thesignhub.eu/grammar/lsc) (Accessed 31-10-2021)

A Chapter:
Surname, Name. 2020. Syntax: 3. Coordination and Subordination. In Josep Quer and Gemma Barberà (eds.), A Grammar of Catalan Sign Language (LSC). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series). (www.thesignhub.eu/grammar/lsc) (Accessed 31-10-2021)

A Section:
Surname, Name. 2020. Phonology: 1.1.1.2. Finger configuration. In Josep Quer and Gemma Barberà (eds.), A Grammar of Catalan Sign Language (LSC). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series). (www.thesignhub.eu/grammar/lsc) (Accessed 31-10-2021)

Surname, Name. 2020. Syntax: 3.1.2.1.3. Manual markers in disjunctive coordination. In Josep Quer and Gemma Barberà (eds.), A Grammar of Catalan Sign Language (LSC). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series). (www.thesignhub.eu/grammar/lsc) (Accessed 31-10-2021)