Modifiable and intensifier self in Dutch and Sign Language of the Netherlands

In this paper we discuss the properties of adverbial exclusive self and we argue that it is not a uniform category. We propose a division into two categories and support this division with data from Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT — Nederlandse Gebarentaal). In Germanic languages like German, Dutch and English, self 1 can be used to highlight the referent it associates with, and to contrast it with an alternative referent or a group of alternative referents. This is illustrated in the Dutch example of adverbial exclusive self in (1).