SL-Video available in ÖGS (Austrian SL)
Negating a statement means that the proposition of an utterance is not true. In practice a positive (assertive) proposition is negated by means of negation such as headshakes. For example, the statement “a person comes” can be negated due to headshakes which accompany the proposition: “A person does not come.” The following examples show two statements which are both first asserted and then negated. The assertive statements “a person comes” and “a person signs” are accompanied by assertive head nods; the negated statements “a person does not come” and “a person does not sign” are accompanied by negative headshakes.
For negating a proposition two possibilities are evident: Either the whole statement or a part of it is accompanied by negative headshakes; or the proposition which is to be negated is followed by negative headshakes. The example “the baby is Deaf” shows that first, the proposition is negated by headshakes which accompany the signed utterance; then the proposition is negated by headshakes which follow after the signed utterance is finished.
SL-Video available in ÖGS (Austrian SL)
Negative headshakes also occur in other language contexts. For example, headshakes can be used to stimulate utterances which are assessed negatively and which can be contrasted with a positive one, that is, head nods can accompany a clause and lead to a positive estimation, while headshakes can accompany a consecutive clause and lead to a negative estimation. In these contexts headshakes do not negate the clause, but rather lead to a negative estimation of the proposition. “In former times I was a very dedicated chairman, but nowadays I am not interested in doing this work anymore.” The first clause is perceived as positive due to assertive head nods, while the second clause stimulates a negative estimation due to headshakes. (The clause which is underlined is accompanied by headshakes.) Detailed information and examples on negations and headshakes are to be found in the following subchapters.
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