Ordinal numbers are derived from cardinals [LEXICON 3.10.1.1]. The handshape of the cardinal number is maintained but there are changes in the orientation and the movement of the sign. For instance, two and second below have the same handshape but they differ in the orientation and the movement. two is articulated with the palm facing the body of the signer and does not involve any movement, while second starts its articulation facing outwards and ends it facing the body of the signer; this internal change in orientation is produced through a specific movement: a wrist rotation.
two vs. second
As in many other sign languages, ordinal numbers in LSC extend from first to ninth. However, the orientation can vary from horizontal to vertical depending on the location and the features of the object they are referring to. In the example below, the ordinal number second is oriented horizontally because it refers to the second floor of a building.
second_floor
Moreover, ordinal numbers can be articulated vertically with a repetitive movement, without any change in the orientation, that is to say facing always outwards. In the example below the ordinal number second refers to a door. This type of ordinals is commonly used to refer to course levels, TV channels or book chapters, among others.
second_door
The sign for ‘first’ can be articulated with two different handshapes, as shown below. Among these two handshapes, only handshape B can be combined with the vertical and horizontal orientation and also with either wrist movement or repetitive movement. The second handshape (2) is only possible within the combination vertical orientation+wrist movement.
a) first(B)
b) first(2)
Nevertheless, handshape 2 can combine with a different type of movement: a horizontal movement that starts in the contralateral side of space and moves straight towards the ipsilateral side of space. This movement only combines with number one(2), and the specific sign that is formed by this combination is used to emphasize the importance of a specific person, action or event, as shown in the example below.
class ix1 go first_of_all(2).
‘I was the first who arrived in class.’
LSC uses the sign list classifier for referring to elements of a group in a specific order. In the articulation of this sign the non-dominant hand is used, the palm is facing the body of the signer and, depending on the number one wants to indicate, a different quantity of fingers are extended, with a maximum of 10. When the number of elements is up to 5 the dominant hand is also used. Among other uses, this sign is used to indicate order relationships within the group [LEXICON 1.2.3], as shown in the examples below.
a) dh: ix1 siblings last ix(fifth)
ndh: five list(>)
‘Of the five brothers and sisters I am the fifth.’
b) dh: contest participate++ ix2 ix(third) congratulations
ndh: five--- list(>)
‘Out of the five participants you are third. Congratulations!’
(examples a-b recreated from Quer et al., 2005)
This sign can also be used in a particular way to refer to the four weeks of a month, as illustrated below.
a) dh: ix(poss)1 district month+++ ix(third_week) time_to market ecological
ndh: list(v)---
‘The third week of every month there’s an ecological market in my district’
b) dh: next august ix(first_fortnight) ix1 go menorca ix(second_fortnight) ix1 go pyrenees
ndh: list(v)----- list(v)--------
‘In August I will spend the first fortnight in Menorca and the second I in the Pyrenees.’
c) dh: september ix(second_week) ix(fourth_week) ix1 interview job
ndh: list(v)--------------------
‘In September, I have two job interviews, one in the second week of the month and the other in the fourth.’
(recreated from Quer et al., 2005)
d) dh: ix3 divorce children take_care ix(Y)(alternate_weeks)
ndh: list(v)-----------
‘He is divorced and he takes care of his children on alternate weeks.’
With this use of the ‘list’ configuration we can easily refer to previously mentioned elements.
dh: topic there_be three begin ix(third) difficult but first_of_all ix(first)
ndh: list(j) list(j)
dh: turn(first) turn(second) turn(third) ix(third) easy
ndh: list(j)--------------------------------------------
‘There are three chapters and it's difficult to start by the third. If you do the first and the second in the first place the third chapter will be easier.’
(recreated from Quer et al., 2005)