Gradable Predicates in Russian Sign Language

Abstract

This paper aims at describing the syntactic and semantic properties of gradable predicates in Russian Sign Language (RSL). Property signs in RSL, such as BIG or BEAUTIFUL, generally behave similarly to stative predicates. However, their compatibility with the degree modifiers and aspectual markers shows that they significantly differ from other stative verbs. Thus, they can be categorized as a separate adjective class. In addition to that, adjective class in RSL is not homogeneous. Property signs of age and size form the core of this syntactic category