study guide ....

SIGNED LANGUAGE The Structure of American Sign Language (ASL)

Goals

¨ Demonstrate the sign language is a full-fledged language with the same range of expression as spoken languages

¨ Demonstrate that ASL is not English in a signed format. ASL is an independent language with its own vocabulary and grammar

Signed Languages

¨ A linguistic system that is perceived visually, and produced through hand movements and facial expressions

¨ Structured communication system ¨ American Sign Language (ASL) is used by many

Deaf communities in the United States and Canada ¤ A quarter of a million people use ASL as their primary

language

ASL Versus English

¨ The grammar and vocabulary of ASL were not modeled on spoken English (developed independently)

¨ Vocabulary is different ¤ “Right” in English has two meanings: (1) opposite of

“left” and (2) opposite of “wrong” ¤ In ASL there are two separate signs for these two

meanings ¨ Grammar—the structure of words in a sentence

¤ Radically different

ASL Versus English

¨ Manual-Visual Mode: transmission from hand to eye (ASL)

¨ Oral-Aural Mode: transmission from mouth to ear (spoken English)

¨ BOTH languages convey complex thoughts

The Structure of Signs

¨ Handshape: configuration of the fingers during the production of a sign

¨ Location: the region of the body where the sign is produced

¨ Movement: the handshape can remain constant during the movement, or it can change

¨ Palm Orientation *All produced simultaneously to make up a sign *These four elements are considered “phonemes” in ASL

Signs That Differ Only in Handshape (location and movement are the same)

Signs That Differ Only in Location (handshape and movement are the same)

Signs That Differ Only in Movement (handshape and location are the same)

Sign Language Prosody

¨ Signs within a sign stream are produced in rhythmic fashion

¨ Emphasize and stress words by extending the duration of the sign, or producing it in a more energized manner

¨ Visual Prosody—facial expressions and body movements that convey meaning ¤ Non-manual markers (e.g., brow movements)

Signing Space

¨ The region where signs can be produced ¨ Referential Locus—a designated region of the

signing space during discourse (e.g., Mike on the LEFT and Megan on the RIGHT) ¤ You don’t keep repeating the names, you refer to the

individuals by their location in the signing space

Conclusions

¨ Sign languages are linguistic systems that are perceived visually and produced with hand movements and facial expressions

¨ Sign language has phonology like spoken languages