Understanding sign language classifiers through a polycomponential approach

In this introductory article we give a brief overview of the description of the constructions in sign language known as classifiers. We focus on the need to carry out theoretically driven linguistic analyses of their use in order to understand the structure and function of these pervasive devices within the grammars of different sign languages. Research on classifiers at the level of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and discourse structure as well as in different populations of signers (native, non-native, child and atypical signers) will assist us in the understanding of these complex structures within the context of current research on sign language linguistics.