In reciprocal sentences, a plural argument is coreferential with another one in the same predication and the individuals referred to are understood as both agents and undergoers of the event. In LSC some predicates are inherently reciprocal, such as discuss, meet, agree, consult, contact, discuss_in_group, fight [LEXICON 3.2].
Other agreement verbs can be used in a reciprocal form when the subject is plural. In these cases, the one-handed sign becomes two-handed, and each of the hands agree with one of the referents. In the examples below the trajectory movement and the orientation are determined by the location of the referents in signing space.
a) dh: santi delfi 3understand3++
ndh: 3understand3++
‘Santi and Delfi understand each other very well.’
b) dh: joan rosa 3atract3++
ndh: 3atract3++
‘Joan and Rosa attract each other.’
c) dh: raquel leo 3call3 day every_day
ndh: 3call3
‘Raquel and Leo call each other every day.’
d) dh: raquel leo 3miss3
ndh: 3miss3
‘Raquel and Leo miss each other.’
When there are multiple referents, reciprocity may also be expressed repeating the agreement verb in opposite directions indicating that the actions are being done among those referents.
a) school boy woman child++ 3put_on_makeup1 1put_on_makeup3 3put_on_makeup1 1put_on_makeup3.
‘At school children put on makeup on each other.’
b) dh: mireia_b mireia_i alexandra 3visit3 3visit3
ndh: 3visit3 3visit3
‘Mireia Isal, Mireia Bartolà and Alexandra visit each other.’
Another strategy that LSC uses to express reciprocal relations is the repetition of the agreement auxiliary towards opposite directions, as illustrated below. This repetition can affect i) only the auxiliary sign, as shown in example (a), or ii) the auxiliary sign and the verb, as shown in example (b) where the auxiliary sign and the verb respectare both repeated towards opposite directions. In any case, when the auxiliary sign is present, the repetition of the verb is optional, since the auxiliary sign is enough to express the reciprocal relation.
a) joan rosa respectb 3aaux3b respecta 3aaux3a.
‘Joan and Rosa respect each other.’
b) alexandra raquel take_care 3aaux3b 3baux3a nothing-5.
‘Alexandra and Raquel don’t take care of each other.’
Moreover, it is quite common to find hand doubling and simultaneity in this type of predicates. In examples (a-c) below the auxiliary sign is repeated sequentially towards opposite directions where the referents are located.
a) dh: joan rosa respect 3aaux3b
ndh: 3baux3a
‘Joan and Rosa respect each other.’
b) dh: ix1pl must love 3aaux3b 3aaux3b also express positive 3aix3b 3aix3b
ndh: 3baux3 3baux3a 3bixa 3bix3a
‘We must love each other and tell positive things to each other.’
c) dh: ix1pl must love 3aaux3b 3aaux3b also positive express 3athrow3b
3athrow3b
ndh: 3baux3a 3baux3a 3bthrow3a
3throw3a.
‘We must love each other and tell positive things to each other.’
The same meaning may be expressed without the auxiliary sign. In this case, the verb may be i) either repeated simultaneously (a), or ii) it can be repeated sequentially (b-e).
a) dh: grandparent woman woman child visit 3go3++
ndh: 3go3++
‘The grandmother and the girl visit each other frequently.’
b) alexandra raquel 3atake_care3b 3btake_care3a nothing-5.
‘Alexandra and Raquel don’t take care of each other.’
c) alexandra raquel 3take_care1 1take_care3 nothing-5.
‘Alexandra and Raquel don’t take care of each other.’
d) both merry christmas 3asend3b 3bsend3a.
‘They wished Merry Christmas to each other via cards.’
e) both congratulations 3asay-23b 3bsay-23a.
‘They congratulate each other.’