Productive reduplication in a fundamentally monosyllabic language.

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Phonology
• Morphology

Background:

• American Sign Language (ASL) exhibits extensive use of reduplication for lexical and morphological purposes.
• The language's fundamentally monosyllabic structure presents a unique case for studying complex reduplication patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how American Sign Language (ASL) achieves numerous reduplication types.
• To identify the phonological features and feature geometry underlying ASL reduplication.
• To explore the relationship between reduplication, event structure, and aspectual modifications.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of phonological features in ASL.
• Examination of feature geometry in sign language.
• Correlation of reduplication patterns with predicate event structure and aspectual modifications.

Main Results:

• ASL employs at least eight distinct linguistic functions for its reduplication types.
• Phonological features facilitate the productive construction of reduplicated forms in ASL.
• Reduplication in ASL is intrinsically linked to predicate event structure and aspectual changes.

Conclusions:

• The study elucidates the phonological mechanisms enabling complex reduplication in a monosyllabic sign language.
• Findings contribute to understanding the interplay of phonology, morphology, and semantics in American Sign Language.
• The feature geometry proposed offers a framework for analyzing ASL reduplication.