4.1.1.2. Possessive markers

In addition to possessive pronouns, Spanish Sign Language (LSE) has independent signs that function as explicit possessive markers or connectors. They indicate the relationship between possessor and possessum without identifying the possessor’s grammatical person.

In LSE, several signs can serve this function: OWN (described in the previous point), OF, KINSHIP and SPECIFIC.

Herrero Blanco (2009, p. 154) describes the use of the sign OWN as a possessive link within the phrase when the possessor is a third-person noun, as shown in (1), taken from Herrero Blanco (2009, p. 154).

(1) CAR OWN JUAN LOVELY (Juan's car is lovely)

In the noun phrase in (1), CAR OWN JUAN, the sign OWN is placed before the possessor.

The sign OF tends to appear in relationships of belonging or affiliation, as shown in (2) and (3).

(2) ASSOCIATION OF WOMAN PARTY PREPARE (The women's association has organised a party)

In (2), in the noun phrase ASSOCIATION OF WOMAN, the relationship is one of affiliation. It is not strictly a sense of possession, but rather one of belonging or composition, in the sense of an association made up of, or linked to, women.

(3) SHIRT OF CELTA-VIGO (Celta de Vigo shirt)

In (3), something similar occurs. The shirt is not the property of Celta de Vigo as such, but belongs to the club as a brand or sporting institution.

The marker KINSHIP is used to express kinship relationships. This sign also appears elsewhere in the GramLSE as the auxiliary agreement sign AUX (see MORPHOLOGY 3.1 Agreement). The element that follows the sign KINSHIP is usually the possessum, as in (4).

(4) rightKINSHIPleft FATHER (His/her father)

In the context of possessive relationships, Rodríguez González (1992, p. 298) describes the use of the sign SPECIFIC (also glosses as EXACTLY) to convey spatial meanings, such as origin or provenance, or territorial identification.

(5) WINE SPECIFIC MÁLAGA (Wine from Málaga)

In (5), adapted from Rodríguez González (1992, p. 298), the sign SPECIFIC expresses a relationship of origin which, as we shall see in the next point, can also be expressed without explicit markers, through juxtaposition.

Villameriel García, S. (2026). Syntax: The noun phrase: Possessive phrases: Ways of expressing the possesive relation in the noun phrase: Possessive markers. In 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. Retrieved Month DD, YYYY, from https://cnlse.es/es/recursos/gramlse/ingles/index/syntax/chapter-4-the-noun-phrase/4-1-possessive-phrases/4-1-1-ways-of-expressing-the-possesive-relation-in-the-noun-phrase/4-1-1-2-possessive-markers