Complex predicates in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS)

This research project investigates the production of different forms of complex predicates in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS). Therefore, interviews with deaf ÖGS signers, as well as experiments with methods that allow precise movement analysis, will be conducted. These methods are the motion capture method, which allows accurate kinematic measurements of hand movements (how far the hands travel in space, how fast the hands move, how fast the hands decelerate/stop, etc.), and electromyographic (EMG) measurements, which can be used to measure muscle activation. Deaf ÖGS signers, as well as hearing persons who learn ÖGS as a second language (with different ÖGS levels), will take part in the studies. The studies will give an insight into the grammar of ÖGS, and will provide information about how ÖGS is learned as a second language. In addition, the knowledge gained from this project will contribute to the development of ÖGS teaching and learning materials. In sign languages, changes in hand movement (how fast the hands are moving and how fast they are accelerating, how long the movement takes, where in space the hands are moving) can change the meaning of certain signs. When forming so-called complex predicates, the movement component of the verb sign is changed in order to express additional information about the event, or the state that the verb describes. Thus, specific movement components combined with the verb stem add specific additional meanings (e.g. whether the event contains an end point, how long an event lasts, or whether an event occurs repeatedly). For example, the verb GIVE is formed in its basic form (without any specific additional meaning) with a single, linear movement, the movement being made from the signer`s body forward towards a point in space. If the additional meaning is added that the event lasts longer than usual ("to give something for a long time"), the sign GIVE is formed with a repetitive circular motion without any pauses between individual repetitions. If one wants to express that something is to be given to several people, then the sign GIVE is produced with a horizontal semicircular movement in front of the signer. Another example are verbs that describe an event with an end point (e.g. "arrive"). These signs show an abrupt deceleration at the end of the sign. For verbs that refer to events that do not imply an end point (e.g. "analyze"), such a deceleration at the end of the sign cannot be observed.