This thesis is a contribution to descriptive work on emotion expression in sign languages. The main purpose is providing a detailed description of anger expression in Ghanaian Sign Language (GSL),...Show moreThis thesis is a contribution to descriptive work on emotion expression in sign languages. The main purpose is providing a detailed description of anger expression in Ghanaian Sign Language (GSL), as well as placing this description within the framework of anger expression in the languages of the world. Anger is considered a basic emotion, resulting in a discussion about the universality of anger expression. This thesis aims to include sign languages in this discussion, by analysing anger expression in GSL in the context of proposed universals. Multiple data collection methods were applied, among which the usage of movie- and picture stimuli, scenarios containing different types of anger, and storytelling. Six signers of GSL were provided with these stimuli and asked to either narrate the movie, identify emotions, create a story containing expression of anger or act out scenarios. Results showed that GSL has a division, phonologically as well as semantically, between signs at the head and signs at the chest area. Furthermore, anger expression is largely iconic and metaphorical. GSL confirms existing theories about universals, such as the embodiment of anger expression and the universality of anger metaphors. However, GSL does distinguish itself from earlier research on anger expression in its usage of intensifiers. Furthermore, although GSL is based in American Sign Language (ASL), many of the signs belonging to the anger lexicon are unique to GSL. Nonetheless, the two signs most frequently used to express anger are the same in both languages.Show less
This thesis describes ideophones in the Bantu language Kikamba (E55). The concept of ideophones and iconicity in (African) linguistics is introduced and a typological overview of Kamba is given. A...Show moreThis thesis describes ideophones in the Bantu language Kikamba (E55). The concept of ideophones and iconicity in (African) linguistics is introduced and a typological overview of Kamba is given. A description of the Kamba ideophone is provided, as well as semantic descriptions and example sentences. Moreover, findings on phonology, syntax, and the implicational hierarchy (Dingemanse 2012) are presented.Show less
Iconicity in reduplication is often considered to be a relation between form and referent, but this idea is more often than not inappropriate or too complicated. A thorough discussion about the...Show moreIconicity in reduplication is often considered to be a relation between form and referent, but this idea is more often than not inappropriate or too complicated. A thorough discussion about the nature of the sign, reduplication and its iconic nature, followed by a case study of Samoan shows that the iconicity should be seen as a relation between form and content.Show less
