Chapter 11
Phonology

Assignment 4

Why is the phonological description of the handshape in the Chinese Sign Language sign for topic (a) not identical to that of the handshape in the NGT sign live (b)?

a.
/home/benjamins/publishing/vault//z/z.199/figures/C11-Q4a.svg
b.
/home/benjamins/publishing/vault//z/z.199/figures/C11-Q4b.svg

With respect to formational characteristics, the handshapes look identical: the index makes contact with the thumb, the other fingers are extended. But the signs differ in which fingers make contact with a body part: in the CSL sign, the three last fingers make contact with the weak hand, while in the NGT sign, the thumb and index make contact with the cheek. Given that the selected fingers are the ones that may make contact with a body part, we must assume that the selected fingers differ in the two signs.