SYNTAX OF DETERMINANT CATEGORY IN THE BRAZILIAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND ASPECTS OF YOUR ACQUISITION

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The present study aims to investigate the categorical nature of certain elements in the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras), which we treat as Localizers (Locs or Loc). These elements, characterized as predominantly deictic structures, are used for "point" referring to the physical world. Anchoring our study in Generative Theory, we defend the hypothesis that these elements are determinant heads (D category), because their main feature is to mark referents, i.e. they subcategorize nominal items performed (NPs) or they occur as pro-forms (with empty NPs). In order to define the grammatical properties of these elements, we conducted an extensive description of Locs both in their articulatory aspects as grammatical aspects, observing data extracted of narratives in Libras made by deaf speakers of that language, as well as data from acceptance tests with the same deaf subjects. The research corpus was constructed from three different profiles of Libras acquisition: a) deaf subjects of listener family, with acquisition of Libras in childhood, from 6 years old (SI1); b) deaf subjects of deaf family, with acquisition of Libras in early childhood, from birth (SI2); and c) deaf subjects of listener family, with late acquisition of Libras, from early adolescence (SI3). For the transcription of the data we used the writing system SEL, developed by Lessa-deOliveira (2012), transcription by glosses and interpretation of sentences. For the analysis of the grammatical properties of Locs, we adopt the MLMov hypothesis (MLMov: Hand - Location - Movement), that is the minimum unit of articulation of sign languages, proposed by Lessa-de-Oliveira (2012). This unit, along with the transcript by SEL system (system constructed from the MLMov unit) allowed us access to the articulated form of the signs and sentences in Libras and hence allowed us access also to the grammatical properties related to the articulatory module of this language, expanding our condition of analysis. Thus, based on studies on the category of determinants performed by Abney (1987) and Longobardi (1994), among other authors, we propose that in pounds Locs are elements belonging to category DP. Based on the studies of Béjar (2003) and Carvalho (2008) about the geometry of traces that make up the pronouns in oral languages, we suggest that the various order between Locs, names (N), possessives (Pos) and quantifiers (Q), found in our data of Libras, are due to the needs of the goals Loc, Pos, Q and N check the traces [D] and [φ] present in the probe. By our analysis, goals must have the condition to check the [Deixis] trace. Based on the study of Torrego (1988) about the nominal ellipse legitimized by certain traces and on the study of Lobeck (1995), that conceives the nominal ellipse as an empty N (pro), we propose that the Locs pro-forms (or pronouns), in Libras, results from Loc + nominal ellipse. This analysis takes us to the conclusion that there are three types of Locs in Libras: type 1 - occurs after the name, with low specification; type 2 - occurs before the name, with a median specification; and type 3 - pro-forms, highly specified. Finally, taking into account the studies on acquisition of pronoun, developed by Lightfoot (1991) and Kato (2000), we observed that the acquisition of names and Locs (including pro-forms Locs) by deaf children seems to follow the same path followed by the listener children when they acquire names and pronouns in oral languages. According the data, the acquisition in Libras seems to start by bare nouns before pronouns, and high specification features of pro-forms Loc (type 3) would be the trigger for the acquisition of these before the acquisition of the other two types of locs (types 1 and 2). In other words, the acquisition of names and Locs, in Libras, goes from pragmatic structures (interpersonal) to grammaticalized structures more abstract.