ASL october 6

Languages and Sign Languages

• Discussion of sign languages in relation to spoken languages in terms of culture and identity.

Understanding Sign Language

• Sign languages can be complex, evolving from basic gestures to comprehensive languages.

• Diversity exists among sign languages, similar to spoken languages; no universal sign language exists.

• Signed languages convey meaning through a complex system of signs, combining shape, movement, and location.

Articulation in Signed Languages

• Articulators:

  • Manual: Arms, hands, fingers.

  • Non-manual: Torso, head, facial expressions.

• Parameters (or primes) involved in signs:

  • Shape of the hand.

  • Orientation and location of the hand.

  • Movement of the hands and body.

Linguistic Differences

• Signed languages have distinct morphological and syntactic systems compared to spoken languages, providing complete grammatical structures.

• Articulation in signed languages is manual-visual, while spoken languages are auditory.

Communication Modes

• Signing can be used in conjunction with spoken language for better understanding (e.g., lip reading along with signing).

Cultural Aspects

• Sign languages reflect and are integral to deaf cultures, similar to how spoken languages reflect their respective cultures.

• The historical development of ASL was influenced by French sign language and local signs, evolving over time.