Definidos fracos e fortes: um estudo sobre Libras

Abstract

This work intends to demonstrate morphosyntactic differences between weak and strong definites in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) both within the scope of comprehension and production. The nominal phrase (NP) determined by a definite article traditionally is seen as uniquely identifiable (Russel, 1905; Strawson, 1950; Roberts, 2003) and familiar (Heim, 1982). However Carlson and Sussman (2005) show that there is a distinction between weak definite (non-uniquely identifiable) and strong definite (uniquely identifiable) nominal phrases. Sentences as: (a) Mary lets the window open when she travels. Peter also lets the window open when he travels. present the definite expression the window which is non-uniquely identifiable. Once we do not instantiate an unique reference in the world for the expression, it would be an example of weak definite. Moreover, the co-reference is not necessary. The sentence (b) Mary broke the window. Peter had the window fixed., however, has an unique reference for the expression the window, which would represent a strong definite. Besides, the co-reference is necessary. Since there are not morphosyntatic distinctions for such semantic phenomena in several oral languages, as Portuguese, English and French, we sought to highlight such differences in Libras. Because the sign languages belong to a different modality, being space-visual, they pose themselves as a great field for semantic investigations. We performed two experiments: one based on production and other on comprehension. At the first experiment the subjects should retell scenes containing both conditions (weak and strong definites) in Libras. The subjects accomplished the task by delimiting different signing spaces for the two conditions. The weak definites were produced in a space that we refer as neutral, just in front of the speaker. The strong definites were produced in spaces that we refer as determined, at the right or left of the speaker. After detecting such difference, we decided to test it in the scope of comprehension: the subjects watched to videos with sentences in which the conditions were produced in determined or neutral spaces and then they should assign images to those sentences (experiment inspired by Klein et al, 2009). In this experiment two images of a same target word were provided to the subjects, at the weak condition the subjects tended to assign two images for the words, while at the strong condition they assigned a single image, demonstrating that what diverges between the two conditions is to be uniquely identifiable or not. Thus, we encountered morphosyntactic differences both in production and comprehension of the Brazilian sign language speakers for weak and strong definites validating the hypothesis of Carlson and Sussman (2005).