The building blocks of The building blocks of American Sign American Sign

LanguageLanguage

What is a Language?What is a Language?A A systemsystem of symbols and of symbols and grammatical signals that grammatical signals that changechange across time.across time.

Members of a Members of a communitycommunity share and use this language share and use this language to interact and to to interact and to transmit transmit cultureculture..

Spoken LanguagesSpoken LanguagesThe basic building blocks of The basic building blocks of EnglishEnglish

are are These sounds (vowels, These sounds (vowels, consonants) are combined toconsonants) are combined toWords are combined to Words are combined to which are combined towhich are combined to

If we change one of the building blocks, If we change one of the building blocks, the the and the and the changes:changes:

soundssounds..

form storiesform stories, etc., etc.

form wordsform words..form sentencesform sentences,,

wordword meaningmeaning

ee ee

“ “stst pp” ” stst ++ ++ ppoo oo

The Five The Five ParametersParameters of ASL: of ASL:• HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE – There are 45 different handshapes in ASL

• LOCATIONLOCATION – The location (where on the body) of each sign can change, and add grammatical information.

• MOVEMENTMOVEMENT – The direction that the sign moves (away from the body, towards the body) carries specific information. Repetition of movement can have grammatical information.

• PALM ORIENTATIONPALM ORIENTATION – Each handshape can change orientation; the palm can face out, down, up, etc.

• FACIAL EXPRESSIONFACIAL EXPRESSION – Many signs in ASL require a non-manual signal in order to be produced correctly. Otherssimply require the emotive facial expression to match the meaning the signer is trying to convey.

Sign Parameters –Sign Parameters – The parts of a signThe parts of a sign

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

Watch the video clip and then use the Watch the video clip and then use the following table to practice the sets of following table to practice the sets of signs demonstrated…signs demonstrated…

Notice that a change in just Notice that a change in just oneone smallsmall parameter will often produce a new signparameter will often produce a new sign (but (but not always).not always).

Link to video.

Your turn. Your turn. Sign them with the video…Sign them with the video…

Once More. Try to sign them without Once More. Try to sign them without the video this time…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: Sign: LousyLousy 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 Hand in shape of a

33At the noseAt the nose

Down & outDown & out

Faces non-dominant Faces non-dominant sidesideDisgustDisgust

Watch as the Watch as the following following signs are signs are demonstrated…demonstrated…

What are the What are the changeschanges in in Parameters? Parameters?

Write the changes Write the changes on the on the charts on your charts on your handout.handout.

PAPER SCHOOLPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

LIKE WHITEPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

LATE NOT YETPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

FOOTBALL WRESTLINGPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

TELL ANSWERPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

Parameters: HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE, , LOCATIONLOCATION, , MOVEMENTMOVEMENT, , PALM ORIENTATIONPALM ORIENTATION, , FACIAL FACIAL EXPRESSIONEXPRESSION

HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE

MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

FACIAL EXPRESSFACIAL EXPRESS

MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

PALM ORIENT.PALM ORIENT.

MY YOURSPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

CHAIR SITPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

SUMMER DRYPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

TRAIN SOONPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

RED CUTEPARAMETER CHANGE:PARAMETER CHANGE:

MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

LOCATIONLOCATION

PALM ORIENT.PALM ORIENT.

HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE

Parameters:Parameters: HANDSHAPEHANDSHAPE, , LOCATIONLOCATION, , MOVEMENTMOVEMENT, , PALM ORIENTATION,PALM ORIENTATION, FACIAL EXPRESSIONFACIAL EXPRESSION

PALM ORIENT. PALM ORIENT. LOCATIONLOCATION

Parameter Parameter PracticePractice

You need…Number Number your your paper paper 1-16.1-16.

You need…

Write the Write the signs and signs and the the difference difference on your on your paper.paper.

5. EARLY vs EMPTY

7. LATE vs. NOT YET

Watch each set of two Watch each set of two signssigns..

HowHow are they different? are they different?1. CHAIR vs SIT

2. AIRPLANE vs FLY

3. TOILET vs SEATTLE

4. WHICH vs. CAR

6. UGLY vs DRY

8. GIRL vs AUNT

9. COMB vs. COMB-HAIR

10. GLASSES vs. BIG-EYES

11. PAPER vs. CHEESE

12. 18 vs. 17

13. LIKE vs. WHITE

14. #BACK vs. #BANK

15. FOOTBALL vs WRESTLING

16. PAY-YOU vs. PAY-ME

Write the signs AND Write the signs AND parameterparameter change on your paper.change on your paper.

Finished?Finished? all the signs copied?all the signs copied?

5. EARLY vs EMPTY

7. LATE vs. NOT YET

Let’s see how you Let’s see how you did…did…

1. CHAIR vs SIT

2. AIRPLANE vs FLY

3. TOILET vs SEATTLE

4. WHICH vs. CAR

6. UGLY vs DRY

8. GIRL vs AUNT

9. COMB vs. COMB-HAIR

10. GLASSES vs. BIG-EYES

11. PAPER vs. CHEESE

12. 18 vs. 17

13. LIKE vs. WHITE

14. #BACK vs. #BANK

15. FOOTBALL vs WRESTLING

16. PAY-YOU vs. PAY-ME

AnswersAnswers

1. MOVEMENT1. MOVEMENT2. MOVEMENT2. MOVEMENT3. HANDSHAPE3. HANDSHAPE4. HANDSHAPE4. HANDSHAPE5. MOVEMENT 5. MOVEMENT 6. LOCATION6. LOCATION7. NMS7. NMS8. MOVEMENT8. MOVEMENT

9. MOVEMENT9. MOVEMENT10. HANDSHAPE10. HANDSHAPE11. MOVEMENT11. MOVEMENT12. HANDSHAPE12. HANDSHAPE13. HANDSHAPE13. HANDSHAPE14. MOVEMENT (hs)14. MOVEMENT (hs)15. MOVEMENT15. MOVEMENT16. MOVEMENT16. MOVEMENT

Your homework…

You will pick You will pick eight (8) signseight (8) signs from your from your CURRENT CURRENT vocabulary list. vocabulary list.

Write them in – on your Write them in – on your “Parameter worksheet”“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 –

SIGN__________HS – LOC –MOV – PO –NMGS –

SIGN__________HS –LOC –MOV – PO – NMGS –

SIGN__________HS – LOC –MOV – PO –NMGS –

SIGN__________HS –LOC –MOV – PO – NMGS –

Examples: NAMENAME(2h) N

neutral spacedominant N hand taps top of other

Face each other

none

DEAFDEAFindex (#1)

head

ear to mouth

in toward bodynone

OOPS!OOPS!I almost forgot to tell you!

This is a TEAM TEAM activity!

Your homework…

Each team will select 8 Each team will select 8 signs. signs.

NO TEAMS MAY USE THE SAME NO TEAMS MAY USE THE SAME SIGNS.SIGNS.

The vocabulary list will be up on The vocabulary list will be up on the doc cam… You must cross the doc cam… You must cross out the signs you have selected out the signs you have selected on the board.on the board.

First come first pick!First come first pick!

Your homework…You may work together in You may work together in your Teams. I will allow you to your Teams. I will allow you to use voice to discuss and work use voice to discuss and work together. You may ask me together. You may ask me questions, questions,

-- but I will not be voicing yet.-- but I will not be voicing yet.

Sorry! Sorry!