Os classificadores da Língua Gestual Portuguesa (LGP): estudo piloto

The present pilot study provides the first analysis of the use of classifiers in Portuguese Sign Language (LGP) by observing the articulation of these elements in deaf signers of different age groups (from 12 to 60 years old). For this purpose, it was collected a systematized corpus with elicited productions trough one subtask from ASLAI test developed by Hoffmeister and colleagues (1990) and with spontaneous productions trough a purposely designed story. From collected data of LGP classifiers, it was observed a great phonological variation in position of fingers in the use of classifiers, which joint and aperture features were the most susceptible to variation. It was also verified when non dominant hand is not identical with dominant hand in its classifier, the non dominant hand may represent the location of classifier produced by dominant hand. The phonological variation of configuration hands and its features were transversal to all signers, with no difference between ages.