Looking at Viewpoint in ASL Through a Cognitive Linguistics Lens

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Cognitive Science
• Semiotics

Background:

• Signed languages like American Sign Language (ASL) utilize the space around the signer for expressing viewpoint.
• Perspective-taking in ASL encompasses both physical/perceptual experiences and subjective stances on abstract concepts.
• Spatial elements are integral to how signers convey their viewpoint.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how viewpoint is linguistically and conceptually expressed in American Sign Language (ASL).
• To analyze the role of surrounding space in ASL's expression of physical and abstract perspectives.
• To investigate the cognitive linguistic mechanisms underlying viewpoint expression in ASL.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of linguistic structures in ASL related to viewpoint.
• Examination of spatial mapping in narrative discourse.
• Application of cognitive linguistics principles (conceptual blending, metaphor, metonymy, image schemas).

Main Results:

• ASL employs specific linguistic mechanisms for tracking perspective shifts and entity references.
• Topic-comment constructions in ASL reflect conceptual viewpoint by framing states of affairs and expressing the signer's stance.
• Viewpoint expression in ASL involves conceptual blends, metaphor, metonymy, body partitioning, and image schemas.

Conclusions:

• The space surrounding a signer is fundamental to expressing viewpoint in ASL, both physically and conceptually.
• ASL's linguistic structures, including topic-comment constructions, are shaped by the need to convey subjective viewpoints.
• A cognitive linguistics approach reveals complex metaphorical and schematic processes underlying viewpoint expression in ASL.