Abstract

This study employs a bibliometric approach to systematically analyze the research trends and thematic developments in grammaticalization studies of sign languages over the past 40 years. As a visual-gestural language, sign language possesses unique features such as spatiality, iconicity, and non-manual elements, which may lead to grammaticalization patterns distinct from those in spoken languages. However, existing research on grammaticalization in sign languages remains limited in both quantity and scope. To address this gap, the study collected and analyzed 1,316 publications from 1984 to 2024, retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The analysis focused on annual publication trends, frequently occurring keywords, thematic structures, and the evolution of research topics over time. The findings indicate a gradual increase in scholarly interest since the 2000s, with a notable expansion into interdisciplinary areas such as cognitive science, computational linguistics, and cultural anthropology. Keywords such as "sign language," "grammaticalization," and "language change" emerged as central themes, reflecting the core focus of the field. By mapping the structural relationships between key topics, this study offers an integrative overview of the current state of grammaticalization research in sign languages and provides a solid empirical foundation for future research planning and theoretical exploration.