Valency of the Georgian sign language (GESL) verbs.

Abstract

1.6.2.1.2. Valency of the Georgian sign language (GESL) verbs. /T. Makharoblidze/. Journal Language and Culture. – 2019. – #22. – pp. 31-40. – geo.; abs.: geo., eng.

Like in many other spoken and sign languages, in GESL verb may have a subject and an object. Sign languages are considered as polypersonal verbal languages. Although the approach to the category of verbal valency and verbal argument structures is absolutely different from the one spread in spoken languages. In sign languages so called incorporated or polypersonal verbs are the verbs which can kinetically display the object directed dynamics. In contrast from spoken languages, in sign languages the verbal valency depends on the object oriented kinetic vector. Sign languages are 3D spatial visual languages, and verbal persons/arguments and valency are connected to this spatial dynamics. In sign languages, lexical and semantic content is not the central point of verbal valency, unlike spoken languages. This fact should be taken into account in a broad typological analysis, since it introduces large changes in typological points of view regarding incorporated verbs and argument structures in in languages as a whole. Ref. 33.

Auth.