Constructing sign sentences
Understanding and using ‘proforms’ in BSL is essential for the understanding of the syntax of BSL. A proform is anything that refers to, and stands in place of, something previously identified. The identification may have been made using a sign for the referent, or the referent may be present for all to see.
For example, the sign CAR has a related proform (a ‘B’ hand) that is used to provide more information about the location of the car and the action it is involved in. This type of structure is also found with MAN and CAT (‘G’ and ‘V’, depending of the context), CAKE (‘5’ hand), PLATE (‘B’ hand), and many other signs.
Pronouns are a familiar type of proform to those who know English. A pronoun stands in place of a previously mentioned noun. ‘Pronoun’ literally means ‘in place of a noun’. A ‘proform’ is any form that stands in the place of, or does the job of, some other form. It is often a noun, so the terms ‘proform’ and ‘pronoun’ may seem to be the same, but we keep therm ‘pronoun’ to mean I, you, he, she, it, we, them, etc., and we use ‘proform’ for a more specific BSL structure.
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