3.1.2.2. Multiple

Multiple or collective number in Spanish Sign Language (LSE) is shown through an arc movement of the verb. This marking has only been observed in object agreement, not subject agreement (Fernández Soneira, 2008, p. 109).

In example (1) (adapted from Fernández Soneira, 2008, pp. 109-110), the bimanual verb TEACH begins near the forehead and moves downward to the height of the object (the children) on the contralateral side (the non-dominant side of the signer). The sign then continues in an arc toward the dominant side of the signing space, indicating that the teaching action is directed to the entire group of children.

(1) I WORK CHILDRENleft>right. LANGUAGE SPANISH meTEACHleft>right (I work with children. I teach them Spanish language)

 

One-handed verbs, such as DISTRIBUTE, show the multiple number whether they are articulated with one hand (example [2]) or with both (example [3]).

(2) CLASSROOM STUDENT CL:SITTING-SEMICIRCLE-FACING-SIGNER I EXAM DISTRIBUTEleft>right (I distribute the exam papers to the students)

 

(3) H1 CLASSROOM STUDENT CL:SITTING-SEMICIRCLE-FACING-SIGNERctr>right 
H2 CLASSROOM CL:SITTING-SEMICIRCLE-FACING-SIGNERctr>left 

 

H1 EXAM DISTRIBUTEleft>right 
H2 EXAM DISTRIBUTEright>left 

(I distribute the exam papers to the students)

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In examples (2) and (3), the verb DISTRIBUTE shows collective plural number differently. In (2), it uses an arc movement from the non-dominant (contralateral) side to the dominant (ipsilateral) side. In (3), both hands sign DISTRIBUTE simultaneously—the dominant hand moves from left to right while the non-dominant hand moves in the opposite direction.

Similarly, when an object can be repeated in the signing space to show plurality, the verb agrees with the object by repeating at each associated location, as shown in (4).

(4) GLASS CL:GLASS+++left,ctr,right WATER POUR+++left,ctr,right (I pour water into the glasses)

Fernández-Soneira, A. y Villameriel García, S. (2025). Morphology: verbal inflection: agreement: number markers: multiple. En S. Villameriel García (Ed.), Gramática de la Lengua de Signos Española (GramLSE) / Grammar of Spanish Sign Language (GramLSE). Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad-Centro de Normalización Lingüística de la Lengua de Signos Española. Recuperado el dd de mes de aaaa de https://cnlse.es/es/recursos/gramlse/ingles/index/morphology/chapter-3-verbal-inflection/3-1-agreement/3-1-2-number-markers/3-1-2-2-multiple