LIN-537G Depiction, Iconicity, and Gesture

Different types of depiction in signed languages include role shifting, classifier constructions, and other iconic “uses of signing space.” Depiction is also performed by non-signers, and in this context is generally considered to be a form of gesture. This course introduces students to central notions in gesture studies and multimodal language research and a framework with which to identify and describe basic depiction types in language use. Throughout the semester students perform exercises in analyzing depiction observed in ASL.