3.4.2.1.2. Singular/plural specificity of the relativization sign

In LIS full relative clauses, the manual relativisation sign pe does not inflect for the singular/plural feature of the head noun. Even in the presence of a plural referent, the sign pe is invariant in its form. In the example below, although the head noun child++ is plural, the sign pe agrees with one point in the signing space associated with the head noun.

 

 

 

                                          rel

         [child++a win pea] teacher prize give

         โ€˜The teacher gives the prize to the children who win.โ€™ (recreated from Branchini, 2014: 192)

 

As for LIS free relative clauses, wh-signs are specified for the singular number feature.