Abstract:

This article analyzes the construction of sign names in an emerging sign language from Mexico, the Yucatec Maya Sign Language (YMSL). Data comes from elicited interviews as well as natural interactions collected by the authors and signers from two different villages, Chicán and Nohkop. Despite YMSL being an isolate language, sign name construction displays tendencies common in other sign languages, such as being based on descriptions of people's appearance and/or behavior. YMSL sign names also exhibit less common features, such as the extensive use of generic names, names by (kinship) association, and nonmanual sign names. Crucially, name construction in YMSL seems to follow the cultural naming rules of the surrounding Yucatec Maya community. A total of ninety-seven sign names were collected in the two communities: forty-two signs in Nohkop and fifty-five in Chicán. This article explores how the cultural setting can shape the development of sign names in an emerging sign language.

摘要：

本文分析了墨西哥新兴手语尤卡坦玛雅手语 (YMSL) 中手语名称的构造。数据来自引出式访谈以及来自 Chicán 和 Nohkop 两个不同村庄的作者和签名者收集的自然互动。尽管 YMSL 是一种孤立的语言，但手语名称的构造显示出其他手语中常见的趋势，例如基于对人的外表和/或行为的描述。YMSL 符号名称还表现出不太常见的特征，例如广泛使用通用名称、（亲属）关联名称和非手工符号名称。至关重要的是，YMSL 的名称构造似乎遵循周围尤卡坦玛雅社区的文化命名规则。这两个社区总共收集了 97 个标志名称：诺科普 (Nohkop) 42 个，奇坎 (Chicán) 55 个。本文探讨了文化背景如何影响新兴手语中手语名称的发展。