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Article published In:
The Semiotic Diversity of Language: The Case of Signed Languages
Edited by Alysson Lepeut and Inez Beukeleers
[Belgian Journal of Linguistics 36] 2022
► pp. 46–72

Showing where you stand

The depictive potential of the lexical sign ls in LSFB conversations about language attitudes

| University of Namur, NaLTT, LSFB-Lab

Enactment is a frequent depictive strategy used to denote referents. Its referential functions are increasingly well-documented cross-linguistically, notably in sign languages. A lesser-known function of enactment is that of stance expression. By enacting a referent, language users can also convey their own perspective and comment on the enacted individual. In this article, it is argued that the depictive manipulation of the French Belgian Sign Language (LSFB) lexical sign ls, which refers to the action of signing, is a fruitful area of investigation for the study of social meanings conveyed by means of enactment. The observation of elicited dyadic conversations about language attitudes shows that LSFB signers can mold several formational aspects of the sign ls in a variety of ways by means of enactment, providing a near first-hand experience of – and commenting on – diverse signers and their signing styles.

Keywords: iconicity, enactment, stance, sign language, sociolinguistics
Article outline
  • 1.Introducing enactment
  • 2.On the functions of enactment: Looking beyond reference
  • 3.Stancetaking and enactment
    • 3.1Enacting and evaluating individual utterances
    • 3.2Enacting and evaluating social types
  • 4.Signing about signing in the LSFB Corpus: Using enactment to express language attitudes
    • 4.1Depicting with iconic lexical signs: The case of ls
    • 4.2 ls in the LSFB Corpus: Tokens of the same type?
    • 4.3Enacting and evaluating diverse signers with ls
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 9 June 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/bjl.00071.van
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