1.3.1. Manual marking

LSC has a rich array of lexical signs [LEXICON 3.6.2]. In this section we focus on signs that encode an indefinite reading and that articulated towards a particular spatial locations. By being associated to spatial locations they undertake a deictic function. A lexical functional element that expresses indefiniteness and that uses signing space is a compound sign. This pronominal sign is formed by the interrogative wh-sign who concatenated with either the 3rd person plural pronominal form (a) or with the determiner some (b). In both cases, the order of the signs is irrelevant. Interestingly, the mouthing accompanying the two compound sign are always the Spanish word alguien โ€˜someoneโ€™, which has scope over the two signs. These pronouns refer to animate entities, namely human and animal discourse referents.

 

            a)         who^ix3pl[up]

 

            b)         who^some[up]