Phonological restrictions on nominal pluralization in Sign Language of the Netherlands: evidence from corpus and elicited data

Abstract This study focuses on nominal pluralization in Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT). The aim is to offer a comprehensive description processes language, based both corpus data and elicited data, taking into account potential phonological restrictions. results reveal that NGT nouns can undergo several processes, main ones being simple reduplication (i.e., repeating noun sign at one location) sideward while moving hand sideward). choice process depends properties base noun: (i) are body-anchored or involve complex movement reduplication; (ii) articulated lateral side signing space (iii) midsagittal plane reduplication. Strikingly, show considerable variation, all types be zero-marked, is, plural marking not obligatory. further suggest least type Thus, influence reduplication, they do block altogether. Plural therefore less constrained than has been reported for other languages, where certain cannot shows – despite iconically motivated subject language-specific grammatical constraints.