以台灣手語為例重新分析手語分類詞述語

Classifier Predicates Reanalyzed, with Special Reference to Taiwan Sign Language

本文參照台灣手語語料，重新分析了傳統所謂的分類詞述語，作者認為所謂的分類詞詞素是一個上位詞，而根據其主要的回指功能，此上位詞應被視為一種代形詞。作者結合Talmy(1985)的動態事件和代形詞的分析，解釋了主體與背景如何在空間結構中與空間動詞共同出現，以及主體和背景的代形詞如何形成以達共現之要求。文中並提出台灣手語的「背景代形詞」「主比體代形詞」更容易預測，因為背景的名詞通常以非移動的手形來作為它的代形詞，而主體名詞通常是取一個全新手形作為它的代形詞。

In this paper we reanalyze the so-called classifier predicates with special reference to Taiwan Sign Language, arguing that the so-called classifier morpheme is a superordinate and should be analyzed as a proform because of its primary anaphoric function. In addition, we develop an approach combining Talmy’s (1985) motion events with the proform analysis to account for how Figure and Ground are represented concurrently with spatial verbs in spatial constructions and how the proforms of Figure and Ground are formed to satisfy such requirement. It is shown that in Taiwan Sign Language the proforms of Ground are more predictable than those of Figure, because the Ground usually takes the handshape of the non-moving hand as its proform, while the Figure usually adopts a new handshape that is not part of the given sign to serve as its proform.