ASL Chapter 1

Draw a picture of how ASL classroom seats are arranged.

Semi circle

What is American Sign Language?

ASL is a bona fide language; a visual-spatial language with its own set of linguistic rules that follows. ASL is used predominantly in the US and English-speaking parts of Canada. *Note: not a universal language and it is not a derivative of English

How do you get someone’s attention? List 3.

• Gently tap the person’s shoulder with an open-bend-B handshape

• Flick the lights if to get everyone’s attention

• Getting the person next to the targeted person to direct her/him to you

• Stomp your foot

• If the person is standing some distance away, it’s fine to wave your hand in their field of vision

How do the English and ASL syntax (sentence structure) differ?

The basic ASL grammar order is usually object - subject - verb. The basic English grammar order is subject - verb - object

Where is the signing space?

When you are signing, the space you use is typically from your head to your waist, from elbow to elbow, and about a foot in front of your body.

What do you do to let your partner know that you are following the conversation and understand? 

You should look directly at the face, so that you can see everything. You will see both facial expressions and signs at the same time. You will get the whole picture that way, using your peripheral vision.

Which hand should you use when signing?

If you are right-handed, your right hand is your dominant signing hand. If you are left-handed, your left hand is your dominant signing hand.

How do you communicate with your teacher?

ASL or writing only

. How many letters are there in the English alphabet? ASL?

There are 26 latin letters in English.  So now, how many letters are there in ASL? There are none, just like Chinese. ASL has what are called “handshapes.

What do you call the ASL alphabet?

ASL has what are called “handshapes.” There are about 90 different handshapes.

Name the 5 parameters in ASL

movement

location

palm orientation

handshape

non-manual markers

What are the WH-q rules in ASL?

Furrow eyebrows, tilt head slightly towards the front, sign the wh-word at the end of the sentence, and holding the last sign a little longer

What are the Yes/No-question rules in ASL?

Raise eyebrows. Tilt head slightly towards the front and holding the last sign a little longer.

Which handshape is the pronoun “I”?

Pointed index finger