Week Four Video

ASL Proper Sign Order

ASL Proper Sign Order

As many of us know, each language has their own system for word order in sentences and phrases. English operates on a subject -verb -object design, or SVO.  ASL on the other hand, functions on an object-subject-verb or OSV design. The following are both examples of how to transform an English statement to a proper phrase in ASL. The statements will be colored to help see the differences. (object-subject-verb)

Example 1:

English: Annie loves red apples.         ASL: Apples red, Annie loves.

Example 2:

English: Kris enjoys watching scary movies.     ASL: Movies scary, Kris enjoys watching.

You can see, now that the sentences are colored, that the black lettering or “red” and “scary” are actually the classifier used to describe the noun or object. In the second example you can see that the other black word “enjoys” is describing how Kris watches movies, but is not the noun phrase classifier.

Arbitrary and Descriptive Sign Parts

Arbitrary and Descriptive Sign Parts

Every sign has an arbitrary portion as well as many possible descriptive parts. Together they make up a proper noun phrase. The arbitrary part is the portion of the sign that has no particular meaning. It is the “vocabulary” part. On the other hand the descriptive part of the sign in called a classifier. This is used in every noun phrase to further explain what is being signed.

For example:

  Classifiers are grammatical part of ASL. They are important in forming a non-fragmented phrase. The wonderful aspect of classifiers is that they are limitless. While the arbitrary sign remains the same, each person uses different classifiers to describe and explain the sign phrase. In addition, the use of classifiers can help people gain the meaning of an unfamiliar arbitrary sign without asking what it means. It can also help individuals who no nearly no ASL to understand parts of a conversation.



Week Three Video

Signing Space

Signing Space

It is important to remember that you are not confined to the sign space immediately in front of your body during conversation. Sign space is only limited by how far your arms can reach. The bigger your message or the crowd you’re signing too, the more of your sign space you use. Here are some examples:

 Very large group or strong message

•  Yelling 
• Signing from a stage 
• Extreme excitement

 

Medium group or Slightly Strong Message

• Signing in a classroom
• Singing to a group

     

      
Small Group or Normal Message

• Small group                                           
• Normal conversation size                            

One-on-One or Private Conversation

•  Personal/Quiet Signing               

Free Signing

Free Signing

Many of us have experienced free writing before, especially in a classroom setting. Free writing gives you a chance to write whatever is on your mind for a designated period of time. The only rules are:

·         There is no stopping to think

      ·         Don’t correct mistakes
      ·         Write quickly
      ·         Don’t stop writing until the time is up

You simply write quickly for several minutes straight. This helps you become comfortable with writing and if practiced enough it will always be something you can do “second nature” and not have to think about. During the third week in ASL 201 we practiced this technique. After we understood what it was about, Carl had us start Free Signing.

It is safe to say free signing caught us all with our guards down. Although we did not sign for as long as people usually write for, it gave us a chance to sign without worrying about fixing mistakes, thinking of better signs, or pausing for anything. During a session of free signing you just keep signing no matter what. If you cannot think of anything, you just keep repeating a sign until something new comes to you, or finger spell a sign you don’t know. This exercise was intimidating at first, but I can see that it is helping me with many things like:

·         Remembering forgotten signs

      ·         Becoming more fluent
      ·         Practice finger spelling
      ·         Getting comfortable signing in front of groups
      ·         Letting the signs come to me so I do not think…I just do

Second Week ASL 201: Reaction