Article published In: Sign Language & Linguistics
Vol. 18:1 (2015) ► pp.41–89
Head movements in Finnish Sign Language on the basis of Motion Capture data
A study of the form and function of nods, nodding, head thrusts, and head pulls
Published online: 29 October 2015
https://doi.org/10.1075/sll.18.1.02puu
https://doi.org/10.1075/sll.18.1.02puu
This paper reports a study of the forms and functions of head movements produced in the dimension of depth in Finnish Sign Language (FinSL). Specifically, the paper describes and analyzes the phonetic forms and prosodic, grammatical, communicative, and textual functions of nods, head thrusts, nodding, and head pulls occurring in FinSL data consisting of a continuous dialogue recorded with motion capture technology. The analysis yields a novel classification of the kinematic characteristics and functional properties of the four types of head movement. However, it also reveals that there is no perfect correspondence between form and function in the head movements investigated.
Keywords: non-manuals, head movements, prosody, Finnish Sign Language, Motion Capture
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