3 ms·

You're asking about Subject-Object-Verb order.

• _nalply 6y ago
  No. It's not about the order of words but that grandparent seems to have misunderstood something about glosses. He is thinking that grammar is simplified. It is difficult for written glosses to express the complete grammar spectrum of Signed Languages. It's unfortunate and similar to the Blub paradox: some people will unavoidably believe that Signed Languages have a simple grammar similar to Chinese when looking at glosses. Additionally, my local Signed Language (Swiss German Sign Language) has quite a free order. Often topic-comment is applied. An example: [Concerning the] weather, [I] think [it's] quite fine. As glosses: WEATHER THINK GOOD. The word «quite» is omitted because it's an inflection. In SGSL I would make a slightly kissing mouth, lower the eyelids somewhat and make very small and fast nodding movements. That's not Subject-Object-Verb order. Additionally there is a slight shift between WEATHER and THINK, it's difficult to explain, but perhaps a colon after WEATHER would help. WEATHER: THINK FINE. This what I called «shift» is an inflection: it puts the word WEATHER in topic mode. Caveat emptor: I am not a linguist, but always have been very interested in linguistics and talk SGSL every day. Edit: many little things.
  • codyogden 6y ago
    Hi. Yes. Degree in American Sign Language. Lived at a deaf school two years. Fully aware of glosses, etc. OP was posting about Subject-Verb-Object order which changes based on the subject or object being the topic of the sentence or active/passive voice. I appreciate your detailed response though.