Source
The feature Src refers to the starting localization in the signing space of a non-static sign. It is closely related with the feature Tgt, which is its ending localization. It is used for description of movement. The source can thus refer to the person/objet in movement or the localization of origin, this element has to be ealier associated with a specific place of the signing space.
Similarly to the feature Loc or Tgt, the values of these features are placements in the signing space. The conventions used to describe them are based on the grammar of LSF of Millet (2019): they start with the acronym PSS standing for Pre-Semantized Space, the next character indicated the vertical placement (‘3’ is the lowest, used for 3rd person reference, then ‘L’ as a locative PSS and finally ‘X’ is the highest placement), the next character indicated the horizontal placement (either left ‘l’ or right ‘r’). The acronym ‘PSSN’ stands for ‘neutral PSS’, articulated in the middle of the signing space. Two other values are possible, namely ‘Prs1’ and ‘Prs2’, when the placement are directly refering to the 1st and 2nd person in the given situation.
The element Src can then also be a value for other features. This annotation choice (using the same elements as features and as values) allows us to describe independently forms and functions since glossing in written French challenges our ability to represent accurately LSF. In this way, the value of Src refers to the form of the sign (here its localization) with no semantic or grammatical specification. Then, Src can be the value for the features Subj, Obj and Obl, associating this form to its grammatical function.
In this example, we see the feature Src used to describe the initial localization of the movement for the signs [TAKE] and [MOVE]. It is further specified that Src signals the Obj, as this part of the signing space was previously assigned the referent [MUSHROOM] (a piece of information which is also repeated with the second sign).
The use of feature Src (and Tgt) is extended to directional verbs, i.e. verbs which change their movement and/or orientation to express their arguments, in the grammaticalized signing space.
In this example, we can see the directional verb [EXPLAIN]. The articulation of the verb from 2nd person to 1st person presents the arguments of the verb and their functions, respectively Subj and Obj, thus meaning ‘you explain to me’.