Classifiers - experimental perspectives

Classifier constructions in sign languages, i.e. signed structures in which the articulator(s) express(es) represents referents, often in spatial relations have inspired many experimental researches. Many studies investigate their acquisition, their use in non-speech pantomime situations by non-signers, and their atrophy in brain damaged signers. An important issue is the question to what extent these structures should be considered as fully linguistic, partly linguistic, or not linguistic structures at all. This chapter gives an overview of investigations in which adult-like production and interpretation of classifier constructions is compared with those of first and second language learners, hearing non-signers (in some studies in a silent gesture condition), and lesioned signers. All studies decidedly show that target-like production and interpretation of the handshapes in these constructions is much more challenging for early and late learners, non-signing gesturers, or brain-damaged signers than target-like production and interpretation of the spatial components location and motion. These results are interpreted as indicating that the spatial components are non-linguistic, under the assumption that linguistic elements should be discrete and categorical. However, this is somewhat impetuous, because the targets and scoring of location and motion in these constructions (in contrast to those of the handshapes) are not always made explicit. Also, research in the last decades shows that discreteness is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for linguistic status. Future research needs to address expression and comprehension of all elements in these constructions more clearly, if necessary incorporating analogue and gradient elements into the theory