In LSC there are some cases in which the classifier has become a lexical sign. For instance, the sign used for ‘plane’ can be either a classifier or a lexical sign, depending on the context, the aspect, the movement, or other factors. In example (a) below, the sign tree is used as a lexical sign. By contrast, in example (b) the same sign is a classifier construction which expresses the falling movement.
a) ix1pl tree+++ cl(g): ‘trees being cut’ want^not.
‘We don't want trees being cut.’
b) lightning tree cl(g): ‘tree falling off’.
‘A lightning made the tree fall off.’