HMH, H-deletion, and Epenthesis

The Liddell and Johnson Movement-Hold Model (HMH)

The structure of signs can be identified and deciphered in a system developed by Scott K. Liddell and Robert E. Johnson—the Movement-Hold Model (HMH). 

The basic claim about the structure in the Movement-Hold Model is that signs consist of hold segments and movement segments that are produced sequentially.  Information about the handshape, location, orientation, and nonmanual signals is represented in the bundles of articulatory features.

	H	M	M
HS
PO
LOC

H-deletion

When two H’s meet in the sequence of signs, they undergo the H-deletion.  For example, the sign GOOD is composed of an initial hold (chin contact), a movement (away from signer), and a final hold (chin proximity).  The sign AFTERNOON is composed of an initial hold (shoulder proximity/palm out), a movement (downward), and a final hold (outer chest proximity/palm down).  When the two signs occur in sequence, the last Movement-Hold Model of GOOD and the first Hold and Movement models of AFTERNOON are eliminated, so the resulting structure is that a new movement is epenthesized (see Figure xx).

GOOD                   H         M          H HS           B      away        B PO          in                       in LOC      chin                  chin                contact            prox.

AFTERNOON                   H         M          H HS          B       down-      B PO       down    ward      down LOC  shoulder               outer            prox.                    chest                                        prox.

GOOD-AFTERNOON                 H         M        H HS          B       move      B PO          in      to           down LOC     chin    outer      outer          contact    chest      chest                          prox.     prox.

 Epenthesis

A verb or adjectival sign, especially when is described, has a modifier movement epenthesized in its Movement-Hold Model. (see Figure xx).  When a verb or adjective sign is defined as a noun, there are two types of movement epentheses: Verb or adjective epenthesis and verb plus agent.

HEAVY                 H         M          H HS           B,B      down-    B, B PO          up, up   ward      up, up LOC       chest                   chin                 prox.                   prox.	VERY-HEAVY                 H         M          H HS          B,B     down-    B,B PO          up         ward      up LOC      chest                 stomach                prox.                 prox.
EDUCATE                 H         M          H   HS         O,O     away      O,O PO         side-                   side-                ways                  ways LOC      outer                   outer                head                   head                contact               prox.	EDUCATOR                   H         M          H   HS          O,O    down-    5,5 PO          side-                 side-                 ways                ways LOC       outer                outer                 head                upper chest                prox.                prox.