On modality in Georgian sign language (GESL)

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

Negation and Negative Concord in Georgian Sign Language

Negation is a topic that has received considerable attention ever since the early days of sign language linguistics; also, it is one of the grammatical domains that has given the impetus for sign language typology. In this paper, we offer a typological and theoretical contribution to the study of sign language negation. As for the typological side, we add Georgian Sign Language (GESL) to the pool of languages investigated. Our description reveals that GESL displays a number of typologically unusual features: a considerable number of negative particles, including emphatic, prohibitive, and tense-specific particles; specialized negative modals; and a wide range of possibilities for Negative Concord (NC) involving two manual negative signs, including a unique tense-specific instance of NC. Most of the patterns we report—available negative particles, their clausal position, and NC possibilities—are clearly different from those attested in spoken Georgian. As for the theoretical contribution, we investigate how the highly complex GESL negation system compares to existing taxonomies of NC and Double Negation systems, and we conclude that GESL aligns with certain languages that have been classified as atypical NC languages

Theory of soil compaction by running bodies of mountain tandem-wheeled self-propelled chassis

AbstractThe theory of soil compaction by running bodies of mountain tandem-wheeled self-propelled chassis is developed. Proceeding from the soil rheological properties and parameters of adaptive mountain tandem-wheeled self-propelled chassis in the deformation distribution zone is defined functional dependency between soil average density and running parts of tandem-wheeled self-propelled chassis. Is developed the technique of calculation of all physical values that are stipulated due standard for assessment of running system's parameters impact on ground. Due these parameters is stated the comparison of experimental and serial self-propelled chassis

The Georgian Dactyl Alphabet

In the Soviet period sign languages in this region were highly influenced by the Russian language and the old Georgian dactyl alphabet was totally based on the Russian one, with only a few additional specific letters. The idea of creating a new original Georgian dactyl alphabet came form the local community of deaf and hard of hearing people and I was honored to work together with these people on this project. The creation of a new original dactyl alphabet based on Georgian letters was a natural step for Georgia and consistent with the sign language nationalization developments in the post-Soviet linguistic space.    This paper presents the results of our work: the new Georgian dactyl alphabet. This alphabet is one-handed with the dactyls which are easy to create and to move between. The method of processing is a mixed type and it is a letter-dactyl (non-syllabic) alphabet by the principle of marking. In the presented papers we also display the theoretical base and the main principles for the dactyl alphabets and the 10 rules of dactiling

On Georgian Preverbs

This paper describes the classification of the functions of preverbs in Georgian and the other Kartvelian languages as a contribution to the typology of this issue. Preverbs have different meanings and activities in different languages. The typological classification of the functions of preverbs reveals the four core functions: spatial, temporal, objective and lexical. This paper discusses verbal argument structure alternations encoded by preverbs. I argue that preverbs affect verbal valency changes and stimulate object role-shifting in Georgian verbs and other Kartvelian languages. I also argue that preverbs have a crucial role in object alternation across the languages

On modality in Georgian sign language (GESL)

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

A negation-tense interaction in Georgian Sign Language

We describe an intriguing interaction of negation and tense in Georgian Sign Language (GESL), a sign language which to date has received close to no attention by linguists. GESL verbs that employ an irregular negation strategy in the present tense (modal verbs and the verb know) require double marking in the past tense, i.e. the irregular negative form combines with the negative particle not, which is not used in the present and future tense with these verbs. The GESL data thus provide us with direct evidence for an active contribution of the feature tense in the grammar of GESL – in contrast to most other sign languages previously studied. We also offer a cross-linguistic perspective on the data by discussing instances of Negative Concord reported for various sign languages as well as tense-negation interactions attested in spoken languages