Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the investigation of the meaning of reduplication in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) analyzing the contribution of each of its forms: repetition (\rep) and alternation (\alt). In order to check their role, we proceeded a data collection with a native signer during elicitation sessions following the methodology for semantic elicitation (Matthewson, 2004). We also collected a spontaneous datum with another signer. We show that \rep is related to aspectual distribution, and \alt is associated to two pieces of information - participant-related distribution and aspectual distribution. We propose a formal analysis for each of the forms as well as of the way they interact compositionally.
Highlights
IntroductionWe present the results of an elicitation study investigating the interpretation of reduplication patterns in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras)
Conclusions Descriptively the data showed that any type of distributive effect involving one-handed repetition (\rep) in Libras always implies distribution in time, whereas participant-related distribution is obtained by adding to \rep additional marking, which is expressed on the spatial dimension
The conclusions reached up to now predict that any type of distributive effect expressed by REP in Libras will always imply distribution in time and will be expressed by \rep; participant-related distribution may be obtained by adding to REP additional marking, which is expressed on the spatial dimension, resulting in the form \alt
Summary
We present the results of an elicitation study investigating the interpretation of reduplication patterns in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). From previous work on both spoken and sign languages, it appears that the distributive effect conveyed by reduplication depends on the category and on the scope of the reduplicated morpheme or phrase. Studies on vocal languages have shown that while the reduplication of V-bound morphemes expresses repetition of events in time (Lasersohn 1995), reduplication of adverbial/adnominal phrases may entail distribution on participants (Cable 2013, Donazzan & Müller 2015). Our study goes further in the analysis of Libras and focuses on patterns of reduplication of VP-internal elements. Our aim is to give a description of the different forms that this type of reduplication can take in Libras, in order to analyse their compositional contribution to the expression of plurality in the event domain
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