Order Of The Major Constituents In Sign Languages: Implications For All Language

Authors

Donna Jo Napoli, Swarthmore CollegeFollow
R. Sutton-Spence

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-12-2014

Published In

Frontiers In Psychology

Abstract

A survey of reports of sign order from 42 sign languages leads to a handful of generalizations. Two accounts emerge, one amodal and the other modal. We argue that universal pressures are at work with respect to some generalizations, but that pressure from the visual modality is at work with respect to others. Together, these pressures conspire to make all sign languages order their major constituents SOV or SVO. This study leads us to the conclusion that the order of S with regard to verb phrase (VP) may be driven by sensorimotor system concerns that feed universal grammar.

Comments

This work is freely available courtesy of Frontiers.

Recommended Citation

Donna Jo Napoli and R. Sutton-Spence. (2014). "Order Of The Major Constituents In Sign Languages: Implications For All Language". Frontiers In Psychology. Volume 5, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00376
https://works.swarthmore.edu/fac-linguistics/40