How many morphemes are in the sign for - lucky?

Answer 1

Note: the terminology of morphemes in sign language linguistics is different than the terminology of morphemes in spoken languague linguistics. This is due to the difference of modality... Sign Languages are Visio-Spatial, whereas spoken languages are acoustic-audible.

All signs are now known to have at least four morphemes, though older sign language linguistic literature typically mentions only three or none at all.... (by the way, Sign Language Linguistics is quite young compared to linguitics of spoken languages, with little serious study before 1970)

These four morphemes are: 1. Handshape, 2. Location 3. Movement and 4. Palm Orientaion. No matter which Sign Language you are examining, every sign has all four of these morphemes.

For the American Sign Language sign for lucky the disection would be as follows:

1. Handshape: Open 5 hand, bent (or crooked) middle finger.

2. Location: Origin of Location on chin or below lowerlip, Secondary Location Slightly foreard from Signer's Face

3. Movement: From Chin or lower lip outward in front of Signer's face

4. Palm Orientation: First, Palm Faces In... Second, Palm Faces Out

If any one of those changes, the meaning of the sign can change. For example, by changing the location to the Forehead, whilst retaining the overall aspect of the other morphemes (e.g. exchanging Chin or lower lip, to Forehead or Temple for Movement), you will have signed "smart" instead of "lucky."

Answer 2

There are two morphemes in the sign for "lucky": "luck" and "-y" (a suffix indicating the adjective form).