The building blocks of American Sign Language

What is a Language? A system of symbols and grammatical signals that change across time. Members of a community share and use this language to interact and to transmit culture. “system” – languages have structure – syntax, grammar “change” – languages are not static… “community” – languages reflect the people who use them “culture” – each language expresses culture

Spoken Languages The basic building blocks of English are These sounds (vowels, consonants) are combined to Words are combined to which are combined to If we change one of the building blocks, the and the changes: sounds. form words. form sentences, form stories, etc. o o “st p” st + + p word meaning e e

The Five Parameters of ASL: HANDSHAPE – There are 45 different handshapes in ASL LOCATION – The location (where on the body) of each sign can change, and add grammatical information. MOVEMENT – The direction that the sign moves (away from the body, towards the body) carries specific information. Repetition of movement can have grammatical information. PALM ORIENTATION – Each handshape can change orientation; the palm can face out, down, up, etc. FACIAL EXPRESSION – Many signs in ASL require a non-manual signal in order to be produced correctly. Others simply require the emotive facial expression to match the meaning the signer is trying to convey.

Sign Parameters – The parts of a sign It is important for new signers to realize that even a slight alteration of ONE of the parameters can produce an un-intended sign.

English equivalent glosses 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: Lousy Hand in shape of a 3 At the nose Down & out 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 3 At the nose Down & out Faces non-dominant side Disgust

What are the changes in Parameters? Sign the following words with a partner… What are the changes in Parameters? Write the changes on the charts on your handout.

Parameters: HANDSHAPE, LOCATION, MOVEMENT, PALM ORIENTATION, FACIAL EXPRESSION PAPER SCHOOL PARAMETER CHANGE: LIKE WHITE LATE NOT YET FOOTBALL WRESTLING TELL ANSWER MOVEMENT HANDSHAPE FACIAL EXPRESS MOVEMENT PALM ORIENT.

Parameters: HANDSHAPE, LOCATION, MOVEMENT, PALM ORIENTATION, FACIAL EXPRESSION MY YOURS PARAMETER CHANGE: CHAIR SIT SUMMER DRY TRAIN SOON RED CUTE PALM ORIENT. LOCATION MOVEMENT LOCATION PALM ORIENT. HANDSHAPE

Parameter Practice

You will pick eight (8) signs from any of your vocabulary lists. Your homework… You will pick eight (8) signs from any of your vocabulary lists. Write them in – on your “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 –

NAME Examples: DEAF SIGN__________ HS – LOC – MOV – PO – NMGS – PO – (2h) N neutral space dominant N hand taps top of other Face each other none DEAF index (#1) head ear to mouth in toward body none

OOPS! This is a small group (2-3) activity! I almost forgot to tell you! This is a small group (2-3) activity!