A linguistic comparison traces semantic extension and grammaticalisation of SAME in Korean Sign Language and kath- in spoken Korean. Both move from identity toward correctness, evidential inference and mitigation, while spoken Korean extends to similarity and KSL does not because an iconic SIMILAR sign already occupies that function.
Key findings
- Both forms share a path from identicalness to correctness, inferential conjecture and mitigation. Korean kath- also develops similarity, whereas KSL SAME does not, attributed to iconic differentiation between SAME and SIMILAR in the visual-spatial modality.
Why this matters globally
The study broadens grammaticalisation theory beyond spoken languages and suggests modality-specific factors can shape change within an established sign-language lexicon.
Thai researcher contribution
A Mahidol University-affiliated scholar contributed to the cross-modal comparison. The language data are Korean, while the theoretical expertise is linked to a Thai institution.
Limitations to consider
The abstract does not state corpus size, signer sample, elicitation, token selection or inter-coder reliability, limiting empirical appraisal. Proposed pathways need historical evidence and comparison with other sign languages.