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.

Try to sign them …Try to sign them …

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

Sign the following Sign the following words with a words with a partner…partner…

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

Your homework…

You will pick You will pick eight (8) signseight (8) signs from any of your vocabulary from any of your vocabulary lists. lists.

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 small group small group (2-3) (2-3) activity!