A study of classifier constructions in Japanese Sign Language

我们在关西和东海地区拍摄了日本手语（JSL）运动表达的视频，其中包括带有分类器（CL）的动词。我们分析了记录的图像，以确认这一事实，即运动事件通常表示为“连续动词结构（SVCs）”。我们的研究还揭示了JSL运动表达式的SVCs的以下特征. SVC通常由两个动词组成;一个方式动词和一个路径动词，类型1或类型2。方式动词后接路径动词的倾向很强.类型1的路径动词总是包含CL，而类型2.4则不一定如此。SVC遵循“方向一致性限制规则”。在这一点上，当表达方式动词时，手势者的姿势方向应该与路径动词（类型1和类型2）的移动方向相关联。只有一个方式动词，没有特殊的条件，不能表达动作表达。（Imazato 2007 a，B）。然而，诸如“致使运动”或“虚构运动”的其他更复杂的运动结构是否应该被表达为SVC，以及诸如致使的其他非运动表达是否可以以SVC的形式表达，这仍然是不明显的。这些问题有待于进一步的研究来回答。我们认为，将手语的SVCs与口语的SVCs进行比较，有助于语言学的一般理论。

We took videos in the Kansai and Tokai areas of the Japanese Sign Language (JSL) motion expressions which include verbs with classifiers (CL). We analyzed the recorded images to confirm the fact that motion events are typically expressed as 'serial-verb constructions (SVCs)'. Our research has also revealed the following feature of SVCs of JSL motion expressions.1. An SVC usually consists of two verbs ; one manner verb and one path verbs either type 1 or type2.2. The manner verb has a strong tendency to be followed by a path verb.3. The type 1 path verb always includes a CL, while this is not necessarily the case with type 2.4. The SVC follows the 'direction consistency restriction rule'. In that, the direction of the signer's posture when expressing a manner verb should correlate with the moving direction of the path verb (of both type 1 and type2).5. Only one manner verb cannot express the motion expression without special conditions. (Imazato 2007a, b).However, it is still not evident whether or not other more complicated motion constructions such as'caused motion'or'fictive motion'should be expressed as SVC, and whether other non-motion-expressions such as causatives can be expressed in the form of SVCs. These questions remain to be answered through further examinations. We believe the comparison of the SVCs of signed language(s) with that of spoken languages can contribute to the general theory of linguistics.