Cardinal numerals in rural sign languages: Approaching cross-modal typology

Zeshan, U., Escobedo Delgado, C. E., Dikyuva, H., Panda, S., & De Vos, C. (2013). Cardinal numerals in rural sign languages: Approaching cross-modal typology. Linguistic Typology, 17(3), 357-396. doi:10.1515/lity-2013-0019.
This article presents data on cardinal numerals in three sign languages from small-scale communities with hereditary deafness. The unusual features found in these data considerably extend the known range of typological variety across sign languages. Some features, such as non-decimal numeral bases, are unattested in sign languages, but familiar from spoken languages, while others, such as subtractive sub-systems, are rare in sign and speech. We conclude that for a complete typological appraisal of a domain, an approach to cross-modal typology, which includes a typologically diverse range of sign languages in addition to spoken languages, is both instructive and feasible.
Publication type
Journal article
Publication date
2013

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