25 June 2019
Cindy's project is entitled “A typological and theoretical perspective on reduplication in Sign Language of the Netherlands”, supervised by Roland Pfau and Silke Hamann.
Reduplication is a common word formation process in both spoken and sign language. Under reduplication, a (part of a) word stem is repeated. This study will offer the first comprehensive account of reduplication in Sign Language of the Netherlands. The study will describe the functions of and restrictions on reduplication of both nouns and verbs. Beyond description, the study will offer a typological and theoretical perspective on the phenomenon. First, results will be compared to earlier findings from both sign and spoken languages. Second, the patterns will be analyzed within a well-established linguistic framework, namely Optimality Theory.
PhDs in the Humanities provides talented researchers with a paid PhD position. The aim of the programme is to offer research talent the opportunity to obtain a doctorate and to gain promotion to academic staff positions.
In 2019 a total of 18 talented researchers were awarded funding. The programme is funded by the Programme Office Sustainable Humanities and the NWO Domain Social Sciences and Humanities.