2.1.3.3. Reflexivity
In LSC a reflexivity relation, which typically establishes coreference between two arguments of the same predicate, is very often expressed with the path and/or orientation of agreement verbs [SYNTAX 2.1.2.3]. Whenever an agreement verb is used in a reflexive form it is articulated in the body of the signer enacting the action.
rs
a) one cl: ‘person walking’ sign think 1ask1++ list.
‘One person was walking, signing, thinking aloud and asking himself questions.’
b) person sign alone think 1ask3++ 1ask1++.
‘A person was signing alone, thinking aloud and asking questions to himself and to others.’
c) school man woman child++ each-one on-its-own++ put_on_makeup1.
‘At school each child puts makeup on themselves.’
However, in some constructions other signs such as self may appear to express reflexivity of the predicate, as shown in the example below.
ix1 self cut_hair.
‘I cut my hair myself.
Moreover, the sign hands appear in some predicates to express that the subject did the action him/herself. This sign very often cooccurs with predicates that imply elaborating some physical output done with the hands such as cooking, building, writing, cutting, etc.
a) ix3 went_crazy hands knife cut_arm1.
‘He/she went crazy and cut his arm with a knife.’
b) ix1 hands cut_hair.
‘I cut my hair myself.’
Besides, both signs self and hands can combine in the same sentence to emphasize the reflexivity of the predicate, as illustrated in the examples below.
a) school man child ix3 self hands 1put_on_makeup1.
‘At school a child puts makeup on himself.’
b) ix1 self hands cut_hair.
‘I cut my hair myself.’
When the event is psychological, the signs auto-1 and auto-2 are used to express that the event is related to the subject.
a) ix3 maria reflection auto-1.
‘Maria was reflecting on herself.’
b) ix3 maria reflection auto-2.
‘Maria was reflecting on herself.’
c) mirror cl: ‘look in the mirror’ auto-2 ix1 self pretty.
‘I look into the mirror and see myself pretty.’
d) mirror cl: ‘look in the mirror’ auto-2 ix1 hair beautiful.
‘I look into the mirror and see my hair nice.’
e) student each-one++ think must auto-2 responsible.
‘Each student must think by him/herself.’
f) open-7 video see auto-2 ix1++ horrible.
‘I played the video and saw myself horrible in it.’
The signs auto-1 and auto-2 can also combine with the sign self, as shown below.
ix1 must love 1aux1 self person1 also auto-2 think positive things list.
‘I must love myself and think positive things about myself.’