The building blocks of The building blocks of American Sign American Sign
LanguageLanguage
What is a Language?What is a Language?A A systemsystem of symbols and of symbols and grammatical signals that grammatical signals that changechange across time.across time.
Members of a Members of a communitycommunity share and use this language share and use this language to interact and to to interact and to transmit transmit cultureculture..
Spoken LanguagesSpoken LanguagesThe basic building blocks of The basic building blocks of EnglishEnglish
are are These sounds (vowels, These sounds (vowels, consonants) are combined toconsonants) are combined toWords are combined to Words are combined to which are combined towhich are combined to
If we change one of the building blocks, If we change one of the building blocks, the the and the and the changes:changes:
soundssounds..
form storiesform stories, etc., etc.
form wordsform words..form sentencesform sentences,,
wordword meaningmeaning
ee ee
“ “stst pp” ” stst ++ ++ ppoo oo
The Five The Five ParametersParameters of ASL: of ASL:• HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE – There are 45 different handshapes in ASL
• LOCATIONLOCATION – The location (where on the body) of each sign can change, and add grammatical information.
• MOVEMENTMOVEMENT – The direction that the sign moves (away from the body, towards the body) carries specific information. Repetition of movement can have grammatical information.
• PALM ORIENTATIONPALM ORIENTATION – Each handshape can change orientation; the palm can face out, down, up, etc.
• FACIAL EXPRESSIONFACIAL EXPRESSION – Many signs in ASL require a non-manual signal in order to be produced correctly. Otherssimply require the emotive facial expression to match the meaning the signer is trying to convey.
Sign Parameters –Sign Parameters – The parts of a signThe parts of a sign
It is important for new signers to realize It is important for new signers to realize that even a slight alteration of ONE of that even a slight alteration of ONE of the parameters can produce an the parameters can produce an un-un-intended sign.intended sign.
Try to sign them …Try to sign them …
ASL Sign Parameters English equivalent glosses
HANDSHAPE (HS) RESTAURANT TWIN ARIZONA
PALM ORIENTATION (PO) SCHOOL STOP PROOF
MOVEMENT (MOV) STOP SOME REJECT
LOCATION (LOC) SUMMER UGLY DRY
FACIAL EXPRESSION(NMS) LATE NOT-YET
Sign: Sign: LousyLousy What are the Parameters for the sign:LOUSY?
HS: __________________________
LOC: _________________________
MOV:_________________________
PO: _________________________
FACE EX: ______________________ (Non-Manual Signal)
Emotion or Grammar?
Hand in shape of a Hand in shape of a
33At the noseAt the nose
Down & outDown & out
Faces non-dominant Faces non-dominant sidesideDisgustDisgust
Sign the following Sign the following words with a words with a partner…partner…
What are the What are the changeschanges in in Parameters? Parameters?
Write the changes Write the changes on the on the charts on your charts on your handout.handout.
PAPER SCHOOLPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
LIKE WHITEPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
LATE NOT YETPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
FOOTBALL WRESTLINGPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
TELL ANSWERPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
Parameters: HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE, , LOCATIONLOCATION, , MOVEMENTMOVEMENT, , PALM ORIENTATIONPALM ORIENTATION, , FACIAL FACIAL EXPRESSIONEXPRESSION
HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE
MOVEMENTMOVEMENT
FACIAL EXPRESSFACIAL EXPRESS
MOVEMENTMOVEMENT
PALM ORIENT.PALM ORIENT.
MY YOURSPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
CHAIR SITPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
SUMMER DRYPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
TRAIN SOONPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
RED CUTEPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:
MOVEMENTMOVEMENT
LOCATIONLOCATION
PALM ORIENT.PALM ORIENT.
HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE
Parameters:Parameters: HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE, , LOCATIONLOCATION, , MOVEMENTMOVEMENT, , PALM ORIENTATION,PALM ORIENTATION, FACIAL EXPRESSIONFACIAL EXPRESSION
PALM ORIENT. PALM ORIENT. LOCATIONLOCATION
Parameter Parameter PracticePractice
Your homework…
You will pick You will pick eight (8) signseight (8) signs from any of your vocabulary from any of your vocabulary lists. lists.
Write them in – on your Write them in – on your “Parameter worksheet”“Parameter worksheet”SIGN__________
HS –LOC –MOV – PO – NMGS –
SIGN__________HS –LOC –MOV – PO – NMGS –
SIGN__________HS –LOC –MOV – PO – NMGS –
SIGN__________HS –LOC –MOV – PO – NMGS –
SIGN__________HS – LOC –MOV – PO –NMGS –
SIGN__________HS –LOC –MOV – PO – NMGS –
SIGN__________HS – LOC –MOV – PO –NMGS –
SIGN__________HS –LOC –MOV – PO – NMGS –
Examples: NAMENAME(2h) N
neutral spacedominant N hand taps top of other
Face each other
none
DEAFDEAFindex (#1)
head
ear to mouth
in toward bodynone
OOPS!OOPS!I almost forgot to tell you!
This is a small group small group (2-3) (2-3) activity!