A Grammar of Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT)

does not generate infinite possibilities. Therefore, this is the type of orientation that is useful and relevant in the description of the phonology of NGT.

We follow Crasborn and van der Kooij (1997) in distinguishing between absolute and relative orientation. The former refers to the direction in which the hand palms are facing (e.g. upwards, contralateral) and can theoretically be described as having infinite possibilities, while the latter refers to the relationship between the selected fingers and the location of the sign (or the final setting). Relative orientation, in other words, “is a specified part of the articulator that is facing either a specified location or a final setting”. An important argument in favour of using relative orientation in the description of the phonology of signs is the fact that, despite the range of superficial/phonetic variation in absolute orientation in articulating a specific sign, it is the relative orientation that remains the same. For example, the sign suppose (stel, see Figure 2.10d below) is regularly articulated with different absolute orientations: in citation form, the palm of the hand points to the non-dominant (usually the left) side, and the fingers are fully extended and point upwards. In real articulations, however, the fingers might be a bit bent, resulting in an orientation that is slightly less straight upward, and the palm may sometimes point slightly more forward. The specifications for relative orientation, however, include all these variants by indicating that it is the radial side of the hand that makes contact with the location (the chin). Relative orientation is, thus, systematically reoccurring, and van der Kooij states that signs in NGT can be specified for one of the orientations described in the table below (left column), and she exemplifies them with the signs in the rightmost column. We elaborate on this further below: 

Table 2.8. The phonological orientations of NGT signs. 

The sign already is articulated in neutral space, and when the sign’s movement ends, it is the pinky side of the hand that is downwards and that “touches” or faces the neutral space. As for the sign easy, it is the palm of the hand that faces the location (the chin), while in politics, the fingertips of the selected finger touch the non-dominant hand. In sweet, the back of the hand touches the cheek, and in suppose, it is the radial-side of the hand that contacts the chin. Finally, in dependent, the root of the selected fingers is facing the neutral space.

Figure 2.10 – part 1. The signs already (a), easy (b), and politics (c), illustrating the orientations ‘ulnar’, ‘palm’, and ‘tips’, respectively (Crasborn et al. 2020, symbols added).

Figure 2.10 – part 2. The signs suppose (d), dependent (e), and sweet (f), illustrating the orientations ‘radial’, ‘root,’ and ‘back’, respectively (Crasborn et al. 2020, symbols added).