French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Millet, Grammaire descriptive de la langue des signes française. Dynamiques iconiques et linguistiques générales
Literary Theory, Linguistics and Stylistics
Agnès Millet
Grammaire descriptive de la langue des signes française. Dynamiques iconiques et linguistiques générales
UGA Éditions de l’Université Grenoble Alpes
Illustrations by Laurent Verlaine
ISBN: 978-2-37747-045-7
446 p.
€30.00
Abstract
LSF (French Sign Language) – like all sign languages around the world – is governed by the laws of gestural expression: imitating reality (known as "iconicity") and positioning the body in space (known as "spatiality"). Through the visual-bodily channel, it brings the human language faculty to life. In this sense, it has its own distinct characteristics, yet as a language among languages, it can also be analyzed using the tools that general linguistics has developed over the past century.
Written by an LSF specialist, this reference work, featuring numerous examples, diagrams, and illustrations, is the first to explore and explain the linguistic mechanisms of LSF by combining analyses of the lexicon, morphology, and syntax.
- Focus on women's rights in the East as well as in England
- Originality of the subject
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Historically, sign languages were often misunderstood as mere pantomime rather than fully realized linguistic systems. This study places French Sign Language (LSF) firmly within the domain of general linguistics, demonstrating how visual-gestural communication operates under structured grammatical rules. By examining the core concepts of iconicity—the depiction of physical reality through gesture—and spatiality—the use of three-dimensional space to establish grammatical relationships—Agnès Millet shows how LSF utilizes the human language faculty. The work bridges the gap between specialized sign language studies and broader linguistic theories developed over the last century.
This descriptive grammar serves as an essential reference for linguists, educators, and students of French Sign Language. By integrating analyses of lexicon, morphology, and syntax, the volume provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how visual languages convey complex meaning. Readers interested in cognitive science, communication, and gestures will find valuable insights into how human language adapts to different sensory modalities. Supported by detailed diagrams and illustrations by Laurent Verlaine, the book clarifies complex linguistic structures, making it highly accessible to both specialists and those seeking a deeper understanding of non-verbal communication systems.