Gqeberha 06 is an initialised sign. It starts with the handshape P in the Irish Sign Language alphabet, followed by the SASL alphabet letter for E. The colloquial shortened version of Gqeberha’s previous name, Port Elizabeth, was PE. Movement to the side is added.Gqeberha has two lexical variations. Gqeberha 01, Gqeberha 06 and Gqeberha 08 are all initialised signs that differ on phonological level from each other. Gqeberha 11 is a distinct descriptive variant.
Gqeberha 08 is an initalised sign with the handshape P in the two-handed British Sign Language alphabet. The previous name of Gqeberha was Port Elizabeth.Gqeberha has two lexical variations. Gqeberha 01, Gqeberha 06 and Gqeberha 08 are all initialised signs that differ on phonological level from each other. Gqeberha 11 is a distinct descriptive variant.
Gqeberha 11 is a descriptive sign. The open hand moves in a brushing motion behind the head, possibly indicating hair blowing in the wind. This could be a reference to the Gqeberha’s colloquial name, the Windy City, which indicates a possible loan sign from spoken language. The mouthing of ‘PE’, a colloquial shortened version of Gqeberha’s previous name, Port Elizabeth, identifies this variant as a place-name sign.Gqeberha has two lexical variations. Gqeberha 01, Gqeberha 06 and Gqeberha 08 are all initialised signs that differ on phonological level from each other. Gqeberha 11 is a distinct descriptive variant.
Language contact: Inevitably, the other languages that individuals are exposed to influence the way they use their native or prominent language. For example, language(culture)-specific idiomatic expressions in the spoken language used in the home might be translated to SASL. Participants who are exposed to other languages in which those specific expressions do not exist, will not know the SASL translation. Places often had multiple names in different spoken languages. A comparison between home language, place names in that language, and the variants that the participant know could be evidence of language contact.
Location: Seat of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and capital of the Gauteng province. Home to the Constitutional Court, South Africa’s highest court. South Africa’s largest and most populous city.
Johannesburg 03 is a descriptive sign with the handshape T followed by J. The handshapes likely refer to the previous number plate for Johannesburg, which started with TJ. This variant is a lexical variation from Johannesburg 01.
Kimberley 01 is an initialised-descriptive sign. Both hands are in handshape K. They move down and inwards to indicate the Big Hole, an old mine that is a landmark of Kimberley. This variant is a lexical variation from Kimberley 03 and Kimberley 08.
Kimberley 03 is a descriptive sign with the handshape in lower-case C, which is the same is the British Sign Language alphabet letter C (same as Cape Town 07). The handshape most likely refers to the previous number plate for Kimberley, which started with CC. This variant is a lexical variation from Kimberley 01 and Kimberley 08.
Kimberley 08 is an initialised-descriptive sign. The handshape Y is accompanied by a forward swiping motion on the signer’s neck. We were unable to determine the meaning of this sign. This variant is a lexical variation from Kimberley 01 and Kimberley 03.
KwaZulu-Natal 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape K and then N. This is followed by a zigzag inward motion towards the signer’s body that could be interpreted to mimic the handshape for Z.
Limpopo 01 is an initialised-descriptive sign. Both hands are in the handshape L and move in a side-to-side forwards motion that mimics the flow of a river. The palm orientation is down, which makes this variant a phonological variation from Limpopo 02.
Limpopo 02 is an initialised-descriptive sign. Both hands are in the handshape L and move in a side-to-side forwards motion that mimics the flow of a river. The palms face to the side, which makes this variant a phonological variation from Limpopo 02.
Geographic variation: Signs are conventionalised by local Deaf communities, i.e., they determine what signs and signing styles are acceptable by informal consensus. Because communities form in set locations, specific ways of using language can be linked to particular places. Therefore, if a participant knows a place name sign that differs from the signs provided by the rest of the group from the research site, it might be because they learned it in another location.
Mpumalanga 01 is a descriptive sign. The dominant hand mimics the sun rising. The meaning of ‘Mpumalanga’ is ‘the place where the sun rises’ in the Nguni language family. This indicates a loan sign from spoken language.
North West 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape N followed by W. This variant has no movement, and is a phonological variation from North West 02.
North West 02 is an initialised sign with the handshape N followed by W. This variant has added movement to the side, which makes it a phonological variation from North West 01.
Northern Cape 01 is an initialised sign with the handshape N followed by C. This variant has no movement and is a phonological variation from Northern Cape 02.
Northern Cape 02 is an initialised sign with the handshape N followed by C. This variant has added movement to the side, which makes it a phonological variation from Northern Cape 01.
