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. Watch the video clip and then use the following table to practice the sets of signs demonstrated… Notice that a change in just one small parameter will often produce a new sign (but not always).

Link to video.

Your turn. Sign them with the video…

English equivalent glosses Once More. Try to sign them without the video this time… 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? Watch as the following signs are demonstrated… 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 need… Number your paper 1-16.

You need… Write the signs and the difference on your paper.

Watch each set of two signs. How are they different? Finished? all the signs copied? Watch each set of two signs. How are they different? 1. CHAIR vs SIT 9. COMB vs. COMB-HAIR 2. AIRPLANE vs FLY 10. GLASSES vs. BIG-EYES 3. TOILET vs SEATTLE 11. PAPER vs. CHEESE 4. WHICH vs. CAR 12. 18 vs. 17 5. EARLY vs EMPTY 13. LIKE vs. WHITE 6. UGLY vs DRY 14. #BACK vs. #BANK 7. LATE vs. NOT YET 15. FOOTBALL vs WRESTLING 8. GIRL vs AUNT 16. PAY-YOU vs. PAY-ME Write the signs AND parameter change on your paper.

Answers Let’s see how you did… 1. MOVEMENT 9. MOVEMENT 2. MOVEMENT 1. CHAIR vs SIT 1. MOVEMENT 9. MOVEMENT 9. COMB vs. COMB-HAIR 2. AIRPLANE vs FLY 2. MOVEMENT 10. HANDSHAPE 10. GLASSES vs. BIG-EYES 3. HANDSHAPE 3. TOILET vs SEATTLE 11. MOVEMENT 11. PAPER vs. CHEESE 4. HANDSHAPE 4. WHICH vs. CAR 12. HANDSHAPE 12. 18 vs. 17 5. MOVEMENT 5. EARLY vs EMPTY 13. HANDSHAPE 13. LIKE vs. WHITE 6. UGLY vs DRY 6. LOCATION 14. MOVEMENT (hs) 14. #BACK vs. #BANK 7. LATE vs. NOT YET 7. NMS 15. MOVEMENT 15. FOOTBALL vs WRESTLING 8. MOVEMENT 8. GIRL vs AUNT 16. MOVEMENT 16. PAY-YOU vs. PAY-ME Answers

You will pick eight (8) signs from your CURRENT vocabulary list. Your homework… You will pick eight (8) signs from your CURRENT vocabulary list. 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! I almost forgot to tell you! This is a TEAM activity!

Each team will select 8 signs. Your homework… Each team will select 8 signs. NO TEAMS MAY USE THE SAME SIGNS. The vocabulary list will be up on the doc cam… You must cross out the signs you have selected on the board. First come first pick!

Your homework… You may work together in your Teams. I will allow you to use voice to discuss and work together. You may ask me questions, -- but I will not be voicing yet. Sorry!