Transcript Sounds of ASL

The building blocks of
American Sign Language
What is a Language?
A system of symbols and
grammatical signals that
change across time.
Members of a community
share and use this language
to interact and to
transmit culture.
Spoken Languages
The basic building blocks of English
are sounds. These sounds (vowels,
consonants) are combined to form words.
Words are combined to form sentences,
which are combined to form stories, etc.
“st op”
st + o + p
If we change one of the building blocks,
the word and the meaning changes:
e
e
The Five Parameters of ASL:
• HANDSHAPE – There are 45 different handshapes in ASL
• LOCATION – The location (where on the body) of each sign
can change, and add grammatical information.
• MOVEMENT – The direction that the sign moves (away from
the body, towards the body) carries specific information.
Repetition of movement can have grammatical information.
• PALM ORIENTATION
– Each handshape can change
orientation; the palm can face out, down, up, etc.
• FACIAL EXPRESSION – Many signs in ASL require a
non-manual signal in order to be produced correctly. Others
simply require the emotive facial expression to match the
meaning the signer is trying to convey.
Sign Parameters –
The parts of a sign
It is important for new signers to realize
that even a slight alteration of ONE of
the parameters can produce an
un-intended sign.
Watch the video clip and then use the
following table to practice the sets of
signs demonstrated…
Notice that a change in just one small
parameter will often produce a new sign
(but not always).
Link to video.
Your turn.
Sign them with the video…
Once More. Try to sign them
without the video this time…
ASL Sign Parameters
English equivalent glosses
HANDSHAPE (HS)
RESTAURANT
PALM ORIENTATION (PO)
SCHOOL
MOVEMENT (MOV)
LOCATION (LOC)
FACIAL EXPRESSION
(NMS)
STOP
TWIN
ARIZONA
STOP
SOME
SUMMER
LATE
PROOF
REJECT
UGLY
NOT-YET
DRY
Sign: Lousy
What are the Parameters for the sign:
LOUSY?
Hand in shape of a 3
HS: __________________________
At the nose
LOC: _________________________
Down & out
MOV:_________________________
PO:
Faces non-dominant side
_________________________
FACE EX: ______________________
Disgust
(Non-Manual Signal)
Emotion or Grammar?
Watch as the following
signs are demonstrated…
What are the changes in
Parameters?
Write the changes on the
charts on your handout.
Parameters: HANDSHAPE, LOCATION, MOVEMENT,
PALM ORIENTATION, FACIAL EXPRESSION
PAPER
LIKE
LATE
FOOTBALL
TELL
SCHOOL
PARAMETER CHANGE:
WHITE
PARAMETER CHANGE:
NOT YET
PARAMETER CHANGE:
WRESTLING
ANSWER
MOVEMENT
HANDSHAPE
FACIAL EXPRESS
PARAMETER CHANGE:
MOVEMENT
PARAMETER CHANGE:
PALM ORIENT.
Parameters: HANDSHAPE, LOCATION, MOVEMENT,
PALM ORIENTATION, FACIAL EXPRESSION
MY
CHAIR
SUMMER
TRAIN
RED
YOURS
PARAMETER CHANGE:
SIT
PARAMETER CHANGE:
DRY
PARAMETER CHANGE:
SOON
CUTE
PALM ORIENT.
LOCATION
MOVEMENT
LOCATION
PARAMETER CHANGE:
PALM ORIENT.
PARAMETER CHANGE:
HANDSHAPE
Parameter
Practice
You need…
Number
your
paper
1-16.
You need…
Write the
signs and the
difference on
your paper.
Watch each
set of two signs.
Finished?
How
are
they
different?
all the signs copied?
1. CHAIR vs SIT
9. COMB vs. COMB-HAIR
2. AIRPLANE vs FLY
10. GLASSES vs. BIG-EYES
3. TOILET vs SEATTLE
11. PAPER vs. CHEESE
4. WHICH vs. CAR
12. 18 vs. 17
5. EARLY vs EMPTY
13. LIKE vs. WHITE
6. UGLY vs DRY
14. #BACK vs. #BANK
7. LATE vs. NOT YET
15. FOOTBALL vs WRESTLING
8. GIRL vs AUNT
16. PAY-YOU vs. PAY-ME
Write the signs AND parameter
change on your paper.
Let’s see how you did…
1.
vs SIT
1. CHAIR
MOVEMENT
2.
vs FLY
2.AIRPLANE
MOVEMENT
3.
vs SEATTLE
3. TOILET
HANDSHAPE
4.
vs. CAR
4. WHICH
HANDSHAPE
5.
vs EMPTY
5. EARLY
MOVEMENT
6.
vs DRY
6. UGLY
LOCATION
7.
vs. NOT YET
7. LATE
NMS
8.
vs AUNT
8. GIRL
MOVEMENT
9.
vs. COMB-HAIR
9.COMB
MOVEMENT
10. GLASSES
vs. BIG-EYES
10.
HANDSHAPE
11. PAPER
vs. CHEESE
11.
MOVEMENT
12. 18HANDSHAPE
vs. 17
12.
13. LIKE
vs. WHITE
13.
HANDSHAPE
14. #BACK
vs. #BANK (hs)
14.
MOVEMENT
15. FOOTBALL
vs WRESTLING
15.
MOVEMENT
16. PAY-YOU
vs. PAY-ME
16.
MOVEMENT
Answers
Your homework…
You will pick eight (8) signs from
your CURRENT vocabulary list.
Write them in – on your
“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 –
Examples:
SIGN__________
NAME
HS – (2h) N
LOC – neutral space
MOV – dominant N hand taps top of other
PO – Face each other
NMGS – none
DEAF
SIGN__________
HS – index (#1)
LOC – head
MOV – ear to mouth
PO – in toward body
NMGS – none
OOPS!
I almost forgot to tell you!
This is a TEAM activity!
Your homework…
Each team will select 8 signs.
NO TEAMS MAY USE THE SAME SIGNS.
The vocabulary list will be up on the
doc cam… You must cross out the signs
you have selected on the board.
First come first pick!
Your homework…
You may work together in your
Teams. I will allow you to use voice
to discuss and work together. You
may ask me questions,
-- but I will not be voicing yet.
Sorry!