Noun Signs Derived from Verb Signs

Compare two pairs of signs: NAME (verb) and NAME (noun); SIT and SEAT/CHAIR

H = Hand Shape H/H = Both Hands (active hand/passive hand) HMH = Onset Hold-Movement-Coda Hold MH = Reduplication of Movement-Hold HMHMH = Onset Hold-Movement-MH) SW = Sideways (NAME) D = Down (SIT/SEAT) NeP = Neck Proximal ChP = Chest Proximal n/a = not applicable a = applicable

NAME (verb, HMH)

	Onset Hold	Movement	Coda Hold	MH
Hand Shape(s)	H/H	down	H/H	n/a
Palm Orientation(s)	SW/SW	to	SW/SW	n/a
Location(s)	NeP/ChP	contact	ChP/ChP	n/a

NAME (noun, HMHMH)

	Onset Hold	Movement	Coda Hold	MH
Hand Shape(s)	H/H	down	H/H	a
Palm Orientation(s)	SW/SW	to	SW/SW	a
Location(s)	NeP/ChP	contact	ChP/ChP	a

SIT (HMH)

	Onset Hold	Movement	Coda Hold	MH
Hand Shape(s)	H/H	down	H/H	n/a
Palm Orientation(s)	D/D	to	D/D	n/a
Location(s)	NeP/ChP	contact	ChP/ChP	n/a

SEAT/CHAIR (HMHMH)

	Onset Hold	Movement	Coda Hold	MH
Hand Shape(s)	H/H	down	H/H	a
Palm Orientation(s)	D/D	to	D/D	a
Location(s)	NeP/ChP	contact	ChP/ChP	a

~Professor Carl

References:

Liddell, S. K., and Johnson, R. E. 1989. American Sign Language: The phonological base. Sign Language Studies 64:195-277.

Supalla, T., and Newport, E. 1978. How many seats in a chair? The derivation of nouns and verbs in American Sign Language. In Understanding language through sign language research, ed. P. Siple, 91-132. New York: Academic Press.