Generational variation: Different generations are subjected to distinct experiences – events, paradigms, trends, etc. These all affect language use, including on place names. At what point will the younger generation’s increasing preference for initialisation reflect in place name signs?
Bartimea 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape B. It differs from Bartimea 03 only terms of the parameter of movement (phonological variation). This variant has a side-to-side movement from the signer’s wrist.
Bartimea 03 is an initialised sign with the handshape B. It differs from Bartimea 01 only terms of the parameter of movement (phonological variation). This variant has a circular movement with the palm facing away from the signer.
Bethlehem 01 is a descriptive sign that is clearly distinct from other variants (lexical variation). It is the same as the sign for JESUS. The sign mimics showing where the nails went through Jesus’ palms when he was crucified. In the bible, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which explains the use of the name sign JESUS for the place Bethlehem.
Bethlehem 03 is a descriptive sign with the handshape O followed by A, which is clearly distinct from Bethlehem 01 (lexical variation). The handshapes refer to the previous number plate for Bethlehem, which started with OA. The movement is to the side, which could possibly indicate the shape of the number plate on the vehicle.
Location: Seat of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality and capital of the Free State province, located in Central South Africa. Also serves as the judicial capital of South Africa. Home to the country’s Supreme Court of Appeal.
Bloemfontein 01 is a descriptive sign with the handshape O followed by B. The handshapes refer to the previous number plate for Bloemfontein, which started with OB. It is a phonological variation from Bloemfontein 06.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Bloemfontein 03 is a descriptive sign that is clearly distinct from other variants (lexical variation). It is the same as the sign for ROSE, which references Bloemfontein’s colloquial name of City of Roses, which indicates a possible loan sign from spoken language. This variant includes mouthing of ‘Bloemfontein’. The movement is the same as Free State 01. This could possibly indicate a derivation between the two signs, as Bloemfontein is the capital of the Free State province.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Bloemfontein 06 is a descriptive sign with the handshape O followed by B. The handshapes refer to the previous number plate for Bloemfontein, which started with OB. It is a phonological variation from both Bloemfontein 01 and Bloemfontein 07.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Bloemfontein 07 is a descriptive sign with the handshape O followed by B. The handshapes refer to the previous number plate for Bloemfontein, which started with OB. It is a phonological variation from Bloemfontein 06.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Bloemfontein 13 is a descriptive sign that starts with the handshape O. This O is a shortened reference to the previous number plate for Bloemfontein, which started with OB. The handshape transitions into a handshape similar to the sign for ROSE, drawing on Bloemfontein’s colloquial name of City of Roses (similar to Bloemfontein 03), which indicates a possible loan sign from spoken language.In the case of Bloemfontein there are two lexical variations: one with the hand resembling a flower (Bloemfontein 03) and the OB variation. Then, the OB variation itself has three phonological variations (Bloemfontein 01, Bloemfontein 06 and Bloemfontein 07). Additionally, there is a morphological variation that combines both lexical variations (Bloemfontein 13).
Location: Seat of the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality and capital of the Western Cape province. Serves as the legislative capital of South Africa and home to the Parliament of South Africa.
Cape Town 01 is an initialised-descriptive sign that incorporates the T handshape for both hands in a movement that mimics the shape of Table Mountain, a landmark of Cape Town. Over time, this shortened version of the sign evolved to only flick the wrists up and down, with the hands in the T handshape. This variant is a lexical variation from both Cape Town 07 and Cape Town 12.
