ASL Unit 1

Common Misconceptions in ASL

1\. Universal sign language used worldwide. Wrong. ASL is used only in the United States and Canada.

2\. Produced with the hands, like a visual form of English. Wrong. English and ASL are separate and distinct languages.

3\. Sign languages are simply gestures. Wrong. Many signs are abstract, which means they have to be learned.

4\. ASL will be easy to learn. Wrong. They learn quickly that ASL is not simply gestural.

5\. Deaf people read/write in braille.

ASL Grammar Strucutre

Object Subject Verb or Subject Object Verb

5 Sign Parameters

1. MOVEMENT of the hands

2. LOCATION of the hands

3. ORIENTATION

4. HANDSHAPE

5. NON-MANUAL MARKERS

6. PROXIMALIZATION

Hello/Hi

Sign

Learn

Practice

Now

Ready

Yes

No

Remember

Gotcha / I see/ Oh I see

Immerse/Immersion

Cool

Neat

See You Later

Different

Same

Same as

Forget

Again

Attempt

Discussion

Talk

Review

Perfect

Correct

Error/Wrong/Incorrect

Example

(x2 moving forward)

Basic

Grammar

Both hands with the "G" handshape, palms facing each other where fingertips of index fingers are in contact, diverge apart while the hands move in a zigzag twist motion at the wrist

Sentence

Pull “F” apart

Object

Shake O

Subject

Shake S

Verb

Finger spell Verb

English

\

Worksheet

Work + Sheet (hit 2x)

Homework

Home (touch chin then cheek) + Work

Snapshot

S S

Video

Watch

Record

Upload

movement upward

Download

movement downward

Click

Dropdown menu

signed as a mouse click, then a list drops down

Type

Motion

move back forth

Location

Palm orientation

Sign P and O

Handshape

Sign H and S

Non-manual markers

Sign N M M

Proximalization

up and down arm

If you want to immerse yourself in ASL, you should take these three steps:

1. Sign as much as you can with your classmates in your ASL classroom! It is important for you and your classmates to turn off your voice completely. This way your comprehension will improve.

2. If there is an ASL lab, take advantage of the opportunity and attend regularly! You can sign with people at the lab and pick up ASL more quickly.

3. Attend events hosted by the Deaf community. Before going, you should ask your teacher if it is all right for you to attend that particular Deaf event. If your teacher gives you the go-ahead, do go and immerse yourself, interact with people, and learn ASL.

What is the best seating for ASL class and why?

Chairs should be arranged in a semicircle. That way, students can see each other, be able to ask questions and participate in dialogue with each other.

When you want to get the attention of someone who is not looking at you, there are different strategies you can choose from:

Strategy #1: Tap their shoulder. You tap twice using your fingertips with your full hand bent at the knuckles. Don’t tap with just your index finger. Tap them on their upper shoulder area of either shoulder. Tapping others on their heads or their waist isn’t appropriate.

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Strategy #2: Wave your hand. If they are a distance away, it’s fine to wave your hand in their field of vision. However, if they are seated close by, do not wave your hand right in their face.

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Strategy #3: Stomp the floor. For floors made out of materials like wood - when you stomp your foot - others will feel the vibrations and turn to look at you.

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Strategy #4: Flash the lights. Turning lights on and off once or twice is enough. Avoid repetitive flashing.

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Strategy #5: Tap the table. Tap the table like you would a shoulder, maybe a bit harder, to get the attention of someone seated further down at the table.

What do you do if someone is blocking your sightline?

You can gently touch their upper shoulder with the tips of your fingers, and pushing lightly in the direction you need them to move (usually backwards). Most importantly, don’t tap their shoulder. Tapping will signal that you want their attention, which is not your intention.  

What is the signing space?

The signing space is usually as tall as your waist to the top of your head, as wide as your outstretched elbows from right elbow to your left elbow, and from your chest outwards as far as your arms and hands can comfortably stretch out to.

Types of Backchanneling

1. HEAD NODS: Nod your head slightly, in various speeds and rhythms along with different mouth movements (slightly apart, pursed).

2. OH-I-SEE: Bounce a y-handshape along with various facial expressions ranging from ‘that’s interesting’ (lips parted slightly, head back), ‘that’s surprising’ (head tilts forward, eyebrows up, lips in an upside-down u), or ‘that’s cool’ (head tilts to the side, with lips in a ‘mm’ shape).

If you are in a conversation and you don’t understand something, you can do two things:

1. Show your confusion on your face by furrowing your brows and shaking your head from side to side slightly.

2. Another option is to bring your hand up in a slight wave, and then sign AGAIN twice with your eyes squinted.

Where do I look?

Look at the area between the signer’s face and upper chest instead - in a way, you’re looking at the general area of their neck as they sign.

How many letters are found in ASL?

There are none, just like Chinese. ASL has what are called handshapes \[Signed as “HS”\]. There’s approximately 90 different handshapes in ASL.

Why are faces important?

Your eyebrows are where sentence types are shown, and around your mouth is where adjectives and adverbs are shown, in addition to head movements. The face is where 70% of grammatical information in ASL is found.

Who is William Stokoe?

American linguist and a long-time professor. His research on American Sign Language revolutionized the understanding of ASL in the United States and sign languages throughout the world

Who was William Stokoe?

a leading educator that published linguistic findings that showed American Sign Language is a true and natural language. His studies and advocacy helped change the way deaf people are educated around the world.

What is American Sign Language?

a complex visual language that is predominantly used by the Deaf community in the United States and Canada. It has its own grammar, syntax, semantics, discourse, and vocabulary and is not simply gestural. ASL combines hand gestures, facial expressions, and body language to demonstrate meaning.

What is the process of developing a language?

First, you are being exposed to lots of signs and information. Second, you start to make connections. Third, you finally understand.

When you ask YES/NO-Question, what should one do with their eyebrows?

Raise Them

When you use WH-Question, what should one do with their eyebrows?

Furrow Them

Why does everyone sign so fast in TWA?

To show authentic and natural signing

Tips for fingerspelling

1. Keep elbow and arm in relaxed position near your body

2. Fingerspell in the same spot

3. Relax hands and do not squeeze

4. Avoid rocking or bouncing

5. Palm faces outwards

6. Pause briefly between words

What is the thesis about DeafDisabled called?

“Ableism in the Deaf Community”

What is problematic about the DeafDisabled vs. Deaf communities?

When Deaf people say that being Deaf is not a disability, it hurts because they are denying the term “Disabled” and marginalized the DeafDisabled from the Deaf community.

Dictionary

Brush upward twice

How do you spell your name?

(Possessive your) + name + fingerspell? With furrowed eyebrows

What

Who

L shape and waggle finger

Where

Wag finger

When

Make circle with finger and land on pointer

Why

Wag three finger

Which

move thumbs up and down

How

wiggle dominant hand

How many

start closed and open with upward movement

What kind/What type

Circle two v’s and land with dominant hand on top

Question Mark

waggle finger

Us/We

Start here then circle to other shoulder

Them/They

Point and move to all people

Our/Ours

start here and move to other shoulder

Two of us

shake up and down

Three of us

make little inward circles

Four of us

four, upwards facing palm, make little circles

Five of us

five, upwards facing palm, make little circles

A group of us

start with finger pointed up, then end here and circle finger pointing down

two of you/three/four/five

Same as us, except arm is extend farther away

You and your group

point to you and then sign group

(BLANK) of them

make number with palm up, mini circle and off to side to show “them

A group of them

Group plus circle with finger pointing down not including self

Ten

Shake gently

20

Tap index and thumb repeatedly