IX
IX (symbol) means a gloss used in sign-language transcription to mark a pointing sign (indicating a person, place, or thing). Example: “In the transcript, IX-1SG marks the signer pointing at themselves.”
How to use IX
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA technical abbreviation linguists use when writing down sign language, standing for a pointing gesture.
A specialist linguistics term — you will not encounter this in everyday reading.
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the transcript, _____-1SG marks the signer pointing at themselves.
Etymology
Shortened from "index" (as in index finger), the finger used to make the pointing sign.
Frequently asked questions
What does “IX” mean?
The word “IX” means a gloss used in sign-language transcription to mark a pointing sign (indicating a person, place, or thing). In plain terms, a technical abbreviation linguists use when writing down sign language, standing for a pointing gesture.
How do you use “IX” in a sentence?
Here is “IX” used in a sentence: “In the transcript, IX-1SG marks the signer pointing at themselves.”
What part of speech is “IX”?
“IX” is a symbol.
Is “IX” a common word?
“IX” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What does IX mean in sign language transcription?
In sign-language transcription, IX is a gloss used to mark an indexical or pointing sign, where the signer points to a person, place, or object to identify it. It functions similarly to a pronoun in spoken language.
How is IX different from an ordinary word gloss in sign-language notation?
Most glosses in sign-language transcription represent a specific lexical sign with a stable meaning, while IX represents a pointing gesture whose reference changes depending on where the signer points. Linguists often add a subscript or index number after IX to show which referent is intended.
Is IX used the same way across all sign languages?
The IX gloss convention is widely used by linguists studying American Sign Language and other sign languages, though exact notation practices can vary between researchers and transcription systems. It always marks a deictic, pointing function rather than a fixed vocabulary sign.
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