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One-handed and two-handed variants of signs in the Czech sign language
Polenská, Anna ; Richterová, Klára (advisor) ; Macurová, Alena (referee)
This bachelor thesis aims to cover the topic of one-handed variants of two-handed signs, the weak drop phenomenon in contemporary Czech Sign Language. Overview of the topic in academic literature on other sign languages (primarily on American Sign Language, Sign Language of the Netherlands, German Sign Language) is presented, including various factors that affect probability of weak drop realisation. Structural factors and their influence are studied with the use of excerption method from natural utterance in a Facebook group Zábava pro neslyšící v ČR. Analysis of this data shows that in Czech Sign Language signs with higher degree of symmetry undergo weak drop more often than signs with lower degree of symmetry, as is the case in most sign languages studied thus far. Alternate movement and contralateral place of articulation both significantly decrease probability of weak drop occurrence (similarly to American Sign Language). Hands contacting the body is favourable to weak drop, hands contacting each other have the opposite effect (as in Sign Language of the Netherlands). Weak Drop variants of signs with the passive hand in handshape B occur in fewer cases than anticipated. Key words: two-handed signs, one-handed signs, Weak Drop, Czech Sign Language, types of signs
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