2.2.2. Classifier handshapes
As in the case of agreement verbs, verbs of motion or location incorporating classifiers (see the section on [LEXICON 1.2.1]) can be used for reference tracking, as classifiers help identifying the referent, which is one of the arguments of the verb. Semantic classifiers (entity and limb) are dependent on the antecedent previously introduced; that is, the handshape is coreferential with a previously introduced discourse referent. In this fragment, for instance, the discourse referent for “rabbit” is referred to through the bare noun at the beginning and later it is coreferred to via two classifier handshapes (the thumb-handshape entity classifier and the Q-handshape limb classifier). The turtle is referred back to via de entity classifier (B handshape).
rabbit turtle cl(2): ‘entity-standing’ / cl(,): ‘entity-standing’
rs:rabbit rs:rabbit
cl(2): ‘run-forward’ / cl(,): ‘move-slow’ speed cl(y) ‘legs-moving’
‘There was a rabbit and a turtle. The rabbit started to run forward fast, very fast, and moving its legs, while the turtle advanced very slowly.’
(© John Benjamins 2018. Reprinted with permission from Barberà & Quer, 2018: 261)
Note finally that unlike predicate classifiers, Size-and-Shape Specifiers [MORPHOLOGY 5.2] are not used for reference tracking.