MASTER ASL! IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW….

GLOSSING pgs. 129 – 130 in your workbook Developed by ASL teachers for HEARING students. Deaf people do NOT write in GLOSS. Glossing is a system of using one language to write another.

GLOSSING pgs. 129 – 130 in your workbook Every sign has one gloss. Some ASL signs need 2 or more English words to convey meaning. Ex: WHAT’S-UP = 1 sign Glossing is labeling. Label ONLY what is signed. Don’t add ENGLISH words that are not signed. Is, are, am….

GLOSSING pgs. 129 – 130 in your workbook The gloss for each sign is in the index of your workbook. When writing in GLOSS you must print in CAPITAL LETTERS.

EYE CONTACT Deaf Culture: No eye contact = rude. When signing or watching someone sign always look them in the eye. No eye contact = not paying attention, day dreaming, not interested.

THE SIGN SPACE Sign Space = where most signs are made during normal conversation. Outside sign space is uncomfortable on your hands, wrists and shoulders Most signs  centered to the right or left of your middle torso.

WHICH HAND DO I USE? Sign with the hand you write. The hand you sign with most often is the DOMINANT HAND. The other hand is the NON-DOMINANT HAND.

Facial Expressions Monotone Voice = boring. Signing without facial expressions = boring. Tone of voice, emotion and intent must be made visual through facial expressions. Facial expressions show emotion, meaning and ASL grammar.

Precision is Important Signing Clearly same as Speaking Clearly Sloppy, uncertain signing same as mumbling Location changes meaning : SUMMER, TO-BE-UGLY, DRY ASL makes visual sense.

ASL IS NOT ENGLISH Think in ASL don’t match ASL signs to English words. If you “mouth” words or talk silently while signing that is not ASL. Deaf people sometimes sign and mouth English words at the same time if they are speaking with hearing people not fluent in ASL.

ASL IS NOT ENGLISH ASL is the only real sign language in America. Not SEE, PSE If you don’t use ASL syntax (order of words in sentences) you are not signing in ASL.

FINGERSPELLING FS not a subsitute for signs you don’t know. Specific purposes-specific signing space Names, places, specific words there are not signs for (i.e., broccoli)

FIVE PARAMETERS OF ASL ASL signs can be broken down into 5 separate features. Correct sign = all 5 parameters are correct Handshape, Palm Orientation, Location, Movement, NMS-facial expressions

HANDSHAPE, PALM ORIENTATION Handshape difference like ME and MY, or 1/D, D/F, E/O. Palm Orientation-unsure if sign faces up, down, left or right. Nervous signing, or signing without practice = PO mistakes. Ex: TABLE OVER-THERE

LOCATION Most signs  In front of your body-comfortable If arms feel awkward = wrong location Some signs start close to body and move away or vice versa Ex: SEE-YOU TOMORROW, GIVE-ME YOUR BOOK

MOVEMENT Movement affects meaning. Hands and arms feel awkward or constricted? Check sign’s movement. EX: I’M HAPPY, I’M ENJOYING

NON-MANUAL SIGNALS/ FACIAL EXPRESSIONS NMS alter meaning. Facial expressions, head nods/shakes, eyebrows, nose, eyes and lips carry meaning. EX: I’M LATE, I HAVEN’T