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Although early studies (DeMatteo 1977, Mandel 1977, Klima & Bellugi 1979) have stirred up some discussion about the semiotic nature of classifiers, the mainstream of sign linguistics seems to have reached a general agreement (especially since the works of Supalla 1978, 1982) to consider classifiers as purely linguistic signs, produced and understood by means of strictly grammatical principles. This position has been defended despite the evident obstacles encountered in the course of analysis of the data, but a small group of scholars has more recently brought the point up for discussion (Ebbinghaus & Heßmann 1991, Macken et al. 1993, Liddell & Metzger 1998, Cogill 1999), by proposing that classifiers reveal interesting aspects of sign languages that are not shared by spoken languages. The present study concentrates on this aspect.
The study has been divided into seven chapters. Chapter 1 offers general information to readers about Venezuela and its sign language. Chapter 2 presents details of methodological aspects of the work, in particular the transcription systems used. In Chapter 3, a general presentation of LSV classifiers in four groups is made and commented on, along with definitions based on their formal and semantic characteristics. The criteria justifying this approach are borrowed from various scholars, and are in line with most of the descriptions of classifiers proposed for other sign languages. Chapter 4 summarises the current theoretical discussion on the semiotic nature of signed classifiers. Chapters 5 and 6 analyse LSV data under the assumption that signs incorporate gestures into their structures so that iconic representations of the world are made possible. As can be seen throughout these last two chapters, this characteristic of classifiers is also shared by many other LSV signs. Finally, in Chapter 7, general conclusions from the study will be offered.
The data discussed here are presented by means of a transcription system whose interpretation may at first be difficult for readers who are unfamiliar with it. To ease comprehension, many signs are also illustrated, and the relevant aspects of the corresponding transcriptions are commented on in the text.
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