Symbols and Glosses in ASL

A set of flashcards defining key symbols and their meanings used in American Sign Language (ASL) notation.

fs-

Represents a fingerspelled word in American Sign Language (ASL).

#

Indicates a lexicalized sign in ASL.

+

Used for both compound signs and contractions in ASL.

“Quotation marks”

Indicate a gesture-like sign when used around lower-case words.

!!

Denote the emphatic form of a sign, indicating it is stressed or emphasized.

-cont.

Suffix denoting continuous inflection of verbs in ASL.

Gloss

An English word in capital letters that stands for an ASL sign.

-

Used to separate sign glosses representing a single sign in ASL.

++

Indicate repetitions of the sign for habitual or frequentative inflection.

Lexicalized sign

A sign that has become a standard part of the ASL lexicon, represented by a #.

DCL"__ "

Descriptive classifier sign used to describe an object or a person.

What is described is italicized and in quotation marks (i.e.,

DCL"curly hair"). Sometimes referred to as size and shape

specifiers or SASSes

LCL:_" __ "

Locative classifier sign representing an object in a specific place

(and sometimes indicating movement). Handshape is given,

followed by spatial or locative information italicized and in quota-

tion marks (i.e., LCL:B"leaf drifting to theground").

SCL:_" __ "

Semantic classifier sign representing a category of nouns such as

vehicle or person. Handshape is given, followed by information

about specific movement italicized and in quotation marks (i.e.,

SCL:l"person walking stiffly and hurriedly'').

BCL"__ "

Body classifier sign in which the body "enacts" the verb of the

sentence. Role shifting is usually required. Specific action is

described in italics and quotation marks (i.e., BCL'acting macho';

BCL"put arms around friend'').

ICL"__ "

Instrument classifier sign in which part of the body (usually the

hands) manipulates an object (Le.,ICL"turn crank" or ICL"play

jacks'').

BPCL:_" __ "

Bodypart classifier sign representing a specific part of the body

doing the action. Handshape is often indicated and specific action

is described in italics and quotation marks (i.e.,

(2h)BPCL:l"crossing legs'; (2h)BPCL:B"taps foot'').

PCL:_" __ "

Plural classifier sign, indicating either specific number or non-

specific number (i.e., PCL:3"people walking'; PCL:4"long line of

people'; PCL:5"hordes of'').

ECL:_" __ "

Element classifier sign representing an element of the earth, such

as rain, wind/smoke/gas, fire and light. These are usually made

with either the 5-handshape or the l-handshape, i.e.,

ECL:5wg"waterfall'; ECL:l"water dripping from a faucet':

Alice Taylor

• 1947-1950

• one of the first Deaf women to attend college

• accomplished writer, advocate

• writer of “Silent Worker”…

• apart of LASC —> became president of in 1920

Chuck Baird

• 1947-2012

• one of the founding artists of De’VIA movement

• painter, storyteller, actor, teacher

• used work to express the Deaf experience

• worked in SPECTRUM as photographer —> visual coordinator

• acted in “King of Hearts”