A Grammar of Catalan Sign Language (LSC)

2.2.1.4. Null arguments for subject and object

LSC is characterized as a null-subject language: when the subject or the object of a sentence are clearly recoverable by other morphological means (agreement, for instance) or by the linguistic context, they may be omitted. In the example below, signer (A) asks a question to signer (B), namely, if he wants ice-cream. Since they are the only two signers in the context, and the eye gaze of signer (A) is addressed towards signer (B) when uttering the question, it is not possible that they are referring to a third person, thus it is possible to drop the subject. Moreover, in the answer, signer (B) also drops the object, since it is clear from the previous question.

 

    

 

A: (ix2) ice-cream want?

     ‘Do you want ice-cream?’

B: (ix1)want.

     Yes, I do.

 

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)