The dominance condition involves two-handed signs with different handshapes and what about the passive hand?

The dominance condition involves two-handed signs with different handshapes and what about the passive hand?

• A. The passive hand does not move
• B. The passive hand moves
• C. The dominant hand moves
• D. Both hands stay still

Answer: (A)

In two-handed signs that use different handshapes, the non-dominant hand acts as the base and stays in one place while the dominant hand does the movement. This stationary passive hand provides the location and grounding for the sign, so the movement and meaning come from the active, dominant hand. If the passive hand moved, it would change the sign’s structure and could make it unrecognizable as a two-handed sign with different handshapes. So the passive hand does not move.

In two-handed signs that use different handshapes, the non-dominant hand acts as the base and stays in one place while the dominant hand does the movement. This stationary passive hand provides the location and grounding for the sign, so the movement and meaning come from the active, dominant hand. If the passive hand moved, it would change the sign’s structure and could make it unrecognizable as a two-handed sign with different handshapes. So the passive hand does not move.