Date of Award
5-1-2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Linguistics
First Advisor
Regina Blass
Abstract
In this thesis I will be analyzing what has typically, in sign language literature, been termed classifiers and classifier constructions. I will be approaching them from the pragmatic perspective by applying Relevance Theory to explain their usage as representations that manipulate and modify their referents. The data comes from texts signed by native users of American Sign Language and are from academic lectures, interviews, narrative, and course curriculum. I have found that Relevance Theory adequately describes why and when classifiers constructions are used and that they function as a procedural referring expression.
Recommended Citation
Jones Ii, Stephen Perry, "Classifier constructions as procedural signs in American Sign Language" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 1443.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/1443