What is American Sign Languague? Mrs. McClure

Introduction to ASL It is NOT universal It is NOT English There are several different sign languages but only ASL is the REAL language.

Different kinds of Signs used in the US Non-verbal communication In-group signs ASL Pidgin Sign English (PSE) Manual English (SEE 1, SEE 2, LOVE) Rochester Method

Non-Verbal Communication Used internationally Used when common language is not available Natural gestures Facial expressions Body movement –Head nod, wink, wave, etc.

In-group signs Signs are unique to a particular group or family Home signs School signs Local signs EX: football signs, baseball, gang, Subway, etc.

ASL Standard signs Fingerspelling elements of pantomime Syntax of its own Ideographic Visual language that is conceptually accurate EX: I went to the store yesterday is signed as YESTERDAY STORE I GO.

Pidgin Sign English (PSE) Standard signs Contact language between English and ASL (combination) 3 guidelines followed; –ASL in English word order –using articles and verb tenses is optional –noun plurality is deleted. EX: I went to the store yesterday is signed AND mouthed as I GO STORE YESTERDAY.

Manual English SEE 1 –Seeing Essential English: Used in Amarillo and sometimes in Richardson, TX (Amarillo sign System) –One-on-One correlation for changing sound to hand movement. –Uses initialized signs –visual code for Manual English –Example: comfortable, forgetfulness

Manual English SEE 2 –Signing Exact English 2 –one sign for each morpheme in English –Example: I went to the store yesterday is signed as I GO + ED TO THE STORE YESTERDAY.

Manual English LOVE –Linguistics of Visual English –Deaf morphemic language that is/was not conceptually accurate. –Example: I went to the store yesterday is signed as I GO + ED TO THE STORE YESTER + DAY.

Rochester Method Used when a word needs to be expressed but no sign is available. Finger spell every single word. Example: I went to the store yesterday is signed as I W-E-N-T T-O T-H-E S-T-O-R-E Y-E-S-T-E- R-D-A-Y.

Finger spelling space Chest area by your shoulder Do NOT bounce! Keep it smooth! Finger spell according to your perspective, not the other way!

3 types of most frequently spelled words: Formal names Places Things

5 parameters of ASL P – palm orientation H – handshape E – expressions (non-manual signs) L – location M - movement

Palm orientation Which way your palm should face –Up –Down –out –in –Left –Right Example: Table or Baby?

Hand shape Shapes of your hands (using the alphabet and numbers to sign) Confused hand shapes – 1/D, D/F, E/O Example: I am Rita vs. My Rita

Facial Expressions (or Non-manual signs) Head nods/shakes, eyebrows, nose, eyes, and lips each carry a meaning that can be attached to a sign. Example:

Location Begin and end your sign at the correct position Signs are directional and originate away from the body but end close, or begin close to the body and terminate away Example: I’ll see you tomorrow

Movement Types –Arc –Straight line –Circle –Alternating in and out –Twist of the wrist –Finger flick

Changes in Movement Location change – one or both hand(s) move from one location to another

Changes in movement Direction change – one or both hand(s) change direction

Changes in Movement Hand shape change – one or both hand(s) change hand shape in mid- sign