Classifier

A type of sign language construction in which handshapes represent categories of objects or entities and are combined with movement and location to convey spatial information about position, movement, shape, or size. Classifiers are a core grammatical feature of sign languages that go beyond fixed vocabulary — they allow signers to create vivid spatial descriptions and narratives. Because classifiers are productive and context-dependent rather than fixed lexical items, they are particularly challenging for sign language learners to understand and for dictionary lookup tools to support.