The emergence of embedded structure: insights from Kafr Qasem Sign Language

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Language Evolution
• Sign Language Studies

Background:

• Embedding and subordination are key features of complex language structures.
• The emergence of these features, particularly in young or developing languages, is not well-documented.
• Previous theories suggest nominalization or prosodic marking may precede syntactic embedding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Kafr Qasem Sign Language (KQSL), an undescribed sign language.
• To identify the earliest stages of embedding in KQSL.
• To investigate the role of prosodic means in marking embedded structures.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Kafr Qasem Sign Language (KQSL) data.
• Application of semantic and prosodic criteria to identify modifying predicates.
• Examination of noun-predicate constituents as potential embedded structures.

Main Results:

• Identification of predicates functioning as constituents with nouns in KQSL.
• Analysis of these structures as early instances of embedded predicates.
• Evidence of prosodic means sustaining embedded propositions within KQSL.

Conclusions:

• KQSL provides novel data on the initial emergence of embedding.
• Prosodic marking appears to play a significant role in early embedding in KQSL.
• These findings contribute to understanding the general development of subordination in language.