In this module, we will discuss a bit more about verb agreement. In the previous module, we have shown that a subset of verbs, known as agreement verbs, can inflect for person and number features. These verbs, however, manifest agreement features in different ways depending on their phonological shape (Mathur & Rathmann, 2012).
Some verbs show agreement via movement modifications (e.g., GIVE), some via orientation changes (e.g., EXPLAIN), and some via changes in both movement direction and palm orientation (e.g., TELL). Agreement verbs also differ in whether they can mark subject and object agreement at the same time. One-handed agreement verbs such as GIVE and HIT allow all possible combinations of subject and object agreement (Different examples of HIT: I hit you, you hit me, I hit him/her, He/she hits me, He/she hits you, You hit him/her, He/she hits him/her, ): 1
1 Some researchers do not draw a distinction between 2nd person and 3rd person agreement, and group them together as ‘non-first-person agreement’, e.g., Lillo-Martin and Meier (2011), Rathmann & Mathur (2012).
Some agreement verbs, such as HELP, which is two-handed, allow limited combinations: I help you, you help me, I help him/her, He/she helps me, He/she helps you
Some agreement verbs are bodily anchored, and their agreement patterns are highly restricted. As shown in the following example, DONATE only allows two agreement patterns: I donate to you, I donate to him/her.
Beside person agreements, some agreement verbs may be spatially modified for number agreement. Klima and Bellugi (1979) and Padden (1983) suggest four possible values for the number features in agreement verbs: singular, dual, exhaustive and multiple. They are illustrated by EMAIL below.
Example (1): I emailed you. (Single object)
Example (2): The teacher emailed all students. (Multiple (all))
Example (3): The teacher emailed each of the students. (Exhaustive plural (each))
Example (4): The teacher emailed two students (Dual (two) objects)
Example (5): Two students emailed me. (Dual (two) subjects)
Single object
Multiple (all)
Exhaustive plural (each)
Dual (two) objects
Dual (two) subjects
References:
- Klima, E. S., & Bellugi, U. (1979). The signs of language. Harvard University Press.
- Lillo-Martin, D., & Meier, R. P. (2011). On the linguistic status of ‘agreement’ in sign languages. Theoretical linguistics, 37(3-4), 95-142.
- Mathur, G., & Rathmann, C. (2012). Verb agreement. In R. Pfau, M. Steinbach, & B. Woll (Eds.), Sign language: An international handbook (pp. 136-157). De Gruyter Mouton.
- Padden, C. (1983). Interaction of Morphology and Syntax in American Sign Language. [PhD Dissertation, University of California]. Garland Outstanding Dissertations in Linguistics.
- Rathmann, C., & Mathur, G. (2003). Unexpressed features of verb agreement in signed languages. Mediterranean Morphology Meetings, 4, 235-250.
