Abstract
Author(s): Makharoblidze, Tamar | Abstract: Modality is one of the most fascinating and complex areas of language studies. This paper illustrates the types of modal constructions in Georgian Sign language (GESL), including negative forms. GESL shows modality semantics with a combination of manual and facial signs. Modals in GESL can occur in the pre-verbal, clause-final, or clause-initial positions, as in many other sign languages (SLs). GESL modal constructions show the specific tense-related negation strategy. Modal constructions in this language often use combinations of modal signs with an equal value.
Highlights
Modality is one of the most fascinating and complex fields in language studies
The research presented here describes modality in general terms in Georgian Sign language (GESL), and it shows the main types of modal constructions in this language
Modality-related two-value interactions are well attested in many spoken languages and Sign Languages (SLs), e.g. Tense-Modality interaction appears in spoken Georgian and in many other spoken languages as well, Modality-Negation interaction occurs in American Sign Language (ASL) and in German Sign Language with partial suppletion for negative forms of modals
Summary
Modality is one of the most fascinating and complex fields in language studies. In linguistics, the term modality has been used for different types of relations to reality. The traditional definition of modality refers to the speaker’s attitude or opinion (among others Palmer 1986) This is a category of discourse showing the relationship between the speaker and the discourse (Herrero-Blanco & Salazar-García 2010), and as a grammatical category, modality has different morphosyntactic forms in different languages. The research presented here describes modality in general terms in Georgian Sign language (GESL), and it shows the main types of modal constructions in this language. It reveals a three-value interaction of Tense, Modality, and Negation. GESL is a language of about 2500 Deaf and hard of hearing people (DHH) in Georgia.
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