Semantic micro-variation in distributivity marking in Highland Mayan Sign Language

Abstract

There are several ways of overtly marking distributivity across languages. In this paper, we focus on three distributive constructions in Highland Mayan Sign Language (HMSL): ONE-smooth-arc, ONE-punctuated-arc, and ONE-alt. We show that HMSL patterns with other sign languages in making use of reduplication and space to mark distributivity in these constructions. However, we also observe micro-variation in the way these constructions are interpreted. Accordingly, we propose that the strategies observed thus far can be decomposed and that HMSL’s three distributive constructions are the result of the pluralizing of an allocation construction (‘x-FOR-i’) at different nodes. Our data further suggests that iconicity alone does not determine meaning and that it must be constrained by the morphosyntax.