Teorija svjazyvanija i žestovye jazyki

Sign Languages can be used to test allegedly universal linguistics theories. We have applied the Binding Theory which explains the properties of pronouns in spoken languages to Russian Sign Language and Sign Language of the Netherlands. We found out that these two languages have reflexive pronouns that behave as predicted by the Binding Theory. On the other hand, some non-reflexive pronouns (pointing signs) can be used in reflexive contexts, too, which can be explained by the visual-spatial modality of these languages. However, the reflexive pronouns are used to express the bound-variable reading, while the non-reflexive pronouns used in the same context express co-reference only. This distribution is also predictable within the Binding Theory framework.