Post on 23-Dec-2015
The Structure of ASL (true ASL)
• I understand ENGLISH is your native language (for most of you anyway)
• I also understand that ASL is based on the AMERICAN language
BUT…
ASL is NOT ENGLISH!!!!!!!
ASL is it’s own UNIQUE languageWith it’s own set of rules and structure
The Structure of ASL (true ASL)
SYNTAX• SYNTAX is the way a sentence
is structured.• SYNTAX are the RULES that
define a sentence structure.
ASL SYNTAX
• In ASL SYNTAX is conveyed through WORD ORDER and NON-MANUAL SIGNALS
ASL STRUCTURE
• In most cases (not always, as there are exceptions to every rule) the STRUCTURE of ASL is:
TIMELOCATION
SENTENCE TYPE
TIME
• This can refer to: clock time 3:34pm, 6:15am etc… calendar time Monday, last week, next
month, yesterday, in a short while, etc…Time periods Summer, Autumn, before,
14th century, the future, Colonial times, next semester, 350 BC, etc…
LOCATION
• Exactly what is meant…
• A PLACE, any place:
DESK, CEILING, LIBRARY, STATUE OF LIBERTY,LOS ANGELES, BASEBALL FIELD, GRANDMA’S
FARM, YOUR BEDROOM CLOSET, ETC….
SENTENCE TYPE
You know several:WH Q
NegationAffirmationCommand
There are more…for another time
ExamplesI went to the store last night.LAST NIGHT STORE I GO-TOThere is no school next Tuesday, it’s a holiday.NEXT-WEEK TUESDAY SCHOOL NONE,
HOLIDAY I watched the movie “SAW” on Halloween
night at my house, it was scary!HALLOWEEN NIGHT MY HOUSE MOVIE
S-A-W I WATCH, SCARE!
Mmmmmmm
What happens when there is no TIME reference?
What do I do???
Use the LOCATIONBut…
what if there is no TIME or LOCATION?
Use the SENTENCE TYPE
Examples (NEGATION) I don’t like to ride my bicycle
when I’m tired.ME TIRED MY BICYCLE-RIDE I DON’T-LIKE (WH) What am I going to cook for dinner?DINNER COOK WHAT?(Q) Did you buy me some ice cream? ICE-CREAM YOU BUY FOR-ME?