We discuss a construction of Italian Sign Language (LIS) that we call PROREL clauses. This construction is used to translate Italian relative clauses by native signers of LIS. We show, however, that it differs from Italian relative clauses both syntactically and semantically. From a syntactic standpoint, we argue that PROREL clauses are correlative constructions on a par with left-adjoined relative clauses investigated for Hindi by Dayal (Locality in WH quantification: Questions and relative clauses in Hindi. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1996). On the semantic side, we argue however that unlike Hindi correlatives, PROREL clauses lack restrictive interpretations and are interpreted instead as subject-predicate structures. In this respect, they are similar to Japanese internally headed relative clauses (IHRCs) investigated by Shimoyama (Journal of East Asian Linguistics 8:147-182, 1999). We propose that like Japanese IHRCs in Shimoyama's proposal, PROREL clauses are related to the main clause via e-type anaphora. © Springer Science+Business Media 2006.

Cecchetto, C., Geraci, C., Zucchi, S. (2006). Strategies of Relativization in Italian Sign Language. NATURAL LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTIC THEORY, 24(4), 945-975 [10.1007/s11049-006-9001-x].

Strategies of Relativization in Italian Sign Language

CECCHETTO, CARLO;GERACI, CARLO;
2006

Abstract

We discuss a construction of Italian Sign Language (LIS) that we call PROREL clauses. This construction is used to translate Italian relative clauses by native signers of LIS. We show, however, that it differs from Italian relative clauses both syntactically and semantically. From a syntactic standpoint, we argue that PROREL clauses are correlative constructions on a par with left-adjoined relative clauses investigated for Hindi by Dayal (Locality in WH quantification: Questions and relative clauses in Hindi. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1996). On the semantic side, we argue however that unlike Hindi correlatives, PROREL clauses lack restrictive interpretations and are interpreted instead as subject-predicate structures. In this respect, they are similar to Japanese internally headed relative clauses (IHRCs) investigated by Shimoyama (Journal of East Asian Linguistics 8:147-182, 1999). We propose that like Japanese IHRCs in Shimoyama's proposal, PROREL clauses are related to the main clause via e-type anaphora. © Springer Science+Business Media 2006.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Sign language, LIS, relative clauses, correlatives
English
2006
24
4
945
975
none
Cecchetto, C., Geraci, C., Zucchi, S. (2006). Strategies of Relativization in Italian Sign Language. NATURAL LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTIC THEORY, 24(4), 945-975 [10.1007/s11049-006-9001-x].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/6521
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