1. 1. The building blocks of American Sign Language
2. 2. 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.
3. 3. Spoken Languages The basic building blocks of English are These sounds (vowels, consonants) are combined to Words are combined to which are combined to If we change one of the building blocks, the and the changes. sounds. form stories, etc. form words. form sentences, word meaning st p st + + po o
4. 4. 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.
5. 5. 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 2 video clips Notice that a change in just one small parameter will often produce a new sign.
6. 6. Double click the black box to play video clip
7. 7. Which one of the 5 parameters changed? Lets take a look at each sign individually
8. 8. Sign: MOTHER What are the Parameters for the sign: MOTHER? HS: __________________________ LOC: _________________________ MOV:_________________________ PO: _________________________ FACE EX: ______________________ (Non-Manual Signal) Hand in shape of a 5 At the chin Double tap Palm faces out Neutral
9. 9. Sign: Father What are the Parameters for the sign: Father? HS: __________________________ LOC: _________________________ MOV:_________________________ PO: _________________________ FACE EX: ______________________ (Non-Manual Signal) Hand in shape of a 5 Side of the forehead Double tap Palm faces out Neutral
10. 10. All the of parameters stayed the same except the location of the sign which changed the meaning from MOTHER to FATHER.
11. 11. Double click to play video clip
12. 12. Which one of the 5 parameters changed? Lets again take a look at each sign individually
13. 13. Sign: Church What are the Parameters for the sign: Father? HS: __________________________ LOC: _________________________ MOV:_________________________ PO: _________________________ FACE EX: ______________________ (Non-Manual Signal) Hand in shape of a C Back of wrist Up and down bounce Palm faces out Neutral
14. 14. Sign: Chocolate What are the Parameters for the sign: Father? HS: __________________________ LOC: _________________________ MOV:_________________________ PO: _________________________ FACE EX: ______________________ (Non-Manual Signal) Hand in shape of a C Back of wrist Circular movement Palm faces out Neutral
15. 15. All the of parameters stayed the same except the movement of the sign which changed the meaning from CHURCH to CHOCOLATE.
16. 16. Parameter Practice
17. 17. Pick 4 signs from session one vocabulary list and practice identifying the parameters of each sign.
18. 18. SIGN __________ HS LOC MOV PO NM