1. ASL III Classifiers

2. What is a Classifier? Classifiers are designated handshapes and/or rule-grounded body pantomime used to represent nouns and verbs. ASL has many classifier handshapes to represent specific categories or class of objects.

3. Purpose of classifiers Provides information about nouns and verbs location, kind of action, size, shape manner. Clarifies a message More efficient

4. What do classifiers represent? Whole entity Surface Instrumental Depth/width Perimeter shape On-surface

5. When do we use classifiers? To describe an object; an action or something that occurred; to give directions, to share information about the surroundings; as part of a story i.e., to set the scene or to share characteristics etc.

6. 3 kinds of Classifiers Stative- does not move/stationary Process- moves Contact- touches

7. Stative Car parked Vase Person standing

8. Process Car moving Animal running Person walking Eyes moving

9. Contact Vase on table Car parked Coins on a table

10. Which Handshapes are allowed for Classifers? A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11. Letter Handshapes A- vase, can, bottle, statue, placement of items on a table B - 4 people together, walls, floors, shelves, flat objects

12. Handshape Classifiers C- cup, trash can, building, large pipe, shape of something F- coins, buttons, eyes moving back and forth, pearl necklace, shape of cigar G- eyebrows, mouth, mustache, collar, bird beak

13. Handshape Classifiers H - represent (the class of) objects that tend to be flat and narrow; belts, bandages, tongues, bacon, noodles, ribbons I - represent (the class of) objects that tend to be thin, long, and string-like; lines, hairline cracks, string, spaghetti

14. Handshape Classifiers K - represent (the class of) objects that have two long skinny round things; Doing the splits. ILY- bird, airplane flying

15. Handshape Classifiers L- show shape of objects- picture frame, clocks, lakes, or size O- pipes, handlebars, hose R - used to show objects that are classified as rope-like, braided, and/or twisted

16. S- show a head- nodding, peaking through a door, animal stretching/turning head U- people sitting or standing, thin objects- tongue, diving board, tie

17. X – represent (the class of) objects that are skinny, long, and curved or bent; Person walking stooped over, Banana laying on a table, Curls in hair Y - represent things that are very wide; The mouth of a hippopotamus, A fat person walking, Liquid being poured, especially gravy or syrup.

18. Number handshapes 1- person, pencil, pole, one- lane road, tree-branch 2/^- two people, toss-and-turn, dive, jump 3- vehicle, animal

19. Number handshapes 4 - 4 people, hair style, whiskers 5 - 5 people walking, leaves falling, hair style

20. Other handshapes 3-curved 5-curved-("claw") Bent-V Closed X