The Grammatical Structure of Thai Sign Language: An Analysis at the Phrase, Sentence, and Discourse Levels
Keywords:
Thai Sign Language, Sign Language Grammar, Sentence Structure, Discourse, Sign LinguisticsAbstract
This academic article presents a systematic linguistic description of Thai Sign Language (ThSL) grammar at three levels: phrase, sentence, and discourse, synthesizing data from literature reviews and linguistic analysis. This paper offers several significant contributions to the field. First, it provides the first detailed analysis of ThSL phrase structure, covering noun phrases, verb phrases, and adverbial phrases. Second, it proposes a revised and more parsimonious six-type model for simple sentences based on predicate, which offers greater explanatory power than the previous 18-type classification. Finally, it presents an inaugural exploration of discourse-level cohesive devices, identifying classifiers, buoys, and role shift as key grammatical and morphological mechanisms for maintaining reference in narratives. These systematic structures affirm ThSL's status as a natural, rule-governed language with systematic patterns consistent with other documented sign languages.
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