3.1.2. Coalescence
Coalescence is a type of cliticization in which an index sign merges with a (preceding) symmetrical two-handed sign (see PHONOLOGY 1.4.1) to form one prosodic word. In the example in Figure 2.56, repeated from PHONOLOGY 2.2.1, the sign handicapped is fully articulated by the non-dominant hand, but only partially by the dominant hand. The dominant hand articulates the first movement of the host sign, but then, the repeated movement is deleted and instead, an indexical sign is articulated while the non-dominant hand completes the full movement. Thus, the index sign cliticizes to the host during the articulation of the host sign. The mouthing of the host sign is likely to spread over the full prosodic word, and this is also what can be observed in the example below, but apart from that, there are no non-manual markers associated with coalescence.
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right hand: handicapped-index3a left hand: handicapped |
Figure 2.56. Coalescence involving an indexical sign
(CNGT0055, S05, 00:07.950-00:08.390).