DDRIG: The Morphology and Syntax of Relativization in American Sign Language

Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Investigators

Abstract

The focus of this dissertation research is the structure of relative clauses in American Sign Language (ASL). Relative clauses are common examples of embedded structures in natural language and as such are important illustrations of the recursivity and complexity of human language grammar. Such structures in ASL were first described in the late 1970's. This early work identified a set of non-manual markers (facial expressions and head tilts) which were claimed to always co-occur with relative clause utterances. Since then however, there has been little further work done on these forms in ASL, and there is still debate within the field as to whether or not the structures originally identified as relative clauses might not be better described as conjoined sentences and thus not true relative clauses. Determining the actual form and distribution of relative clauses in ASL is therefore crucial to understanding the nature of both embedded and non-embedded structures in ASL. Consequently, the objectives of the study are to identify ASL utterances which qualify as clear examples of relative clauses, to determine exactly which signs or non-manual expressions are required in such utterances and under what conditions, and to use these discoveries to support an analysis of the syntactic structures involved. The research will also identify several additional subtypes of relative clauses not previously identified. Natural language data will be collected from native speakers of ASL in the areas of Rochester, NY and Washington, DC through one-on-one interviews designed to elicit relative clause structures in a variety of syntactic positions. These interviews will be recorded with high-definition video equipment to allow for the most accurate transcription of subtle but grammatically important non-manual markers. This research will be an important contribution to the understanding of sign language syntax. Like other minority languages, ASL has historically been incorrectly seen as inferior to English, in part because of the different modality. It is frequently the case that important grammatical markers in ASL, such as those indicative of relative clauses, are articulated on the face rather than the hands. A better understanding of the morphological structure of these non-manual grammatical markers has the potential to inform the teaching of ASL as a second language, and serve to improve the general perception of ASL as a rich and complex language.