Section 11_12

Overview of ASL Linguistics

• Section title: Ling200 AA/AD ASL Signed Language Linguistics

Instructor Experience

• Instructor's background in ASL:

  • No formal studies or extensive research in ASL.

  • Completed a course in linguistics of sign languages during MA.

  • Encourages students interested in ASL to enroll in future courses.

Modality of Languages

• Fill in the blank: Signed languages use a visual-gestural modality, whereas spoken languages use an auditory-vocal modality.

  • Highlights the primary difference in communication methods between signed and spoken languages.

• Note: Signed languages share similarities with spoken languages in structure and use.

Characteristics of Signed Languages

• Q: Signed languages are not purely __________; instead, they exhibit:

  • Hockett's design feature of arbitrariness - a random mapping from form to meaning.

• Notably, signed languages utilize parameters, not purely iconic signs.

Deaf Children and Parents

• Most children who are born deaf are born to hearing parents.

Parameters of Signed Languages

• Fill in the blank: Signed languages exhibit 5 discrete units of signs, called parameters.

  • These parameters include:

    • Handshape: Physical shape of the hands during a sign (number of fingers, hand position).

    • Location: Where in the signing space a sign is produced (relative to the signer’s body).

    • Movement: Type of movement involved in a sign’s production (direction, rotation).

    • Palm orientation: Orientation of the palm(s) used when producing a sign.

    • Non-manual expressions: Additional features like facial expressions that complement signs.

Phonology of Sign Languages

• Different types of phonological processes in signed languages:

  • Deletion: Removal of parameters in a sign.

  • Epenthesis: Insertion of parameters onto a sign.

  • Assimilation: Two sign parameters becoming similar.

  • Dissimilation: Parameters becoming less alike.

  • Metathesis: Changing order of parameters.

  • Centralization: Signs adjust to become more centralized with respect to the body.

  • Fusion, fluidity, compensatory lengthening: Additional processes that may occur in conjunction with others.

Phonotactic Constraints

• Constraints in signed languages that restrict possible signs and parameters:

  • Disallowed handshapes.

  • Symmetry condition: Rules regarding hand movements and shapes in signs.

Morphology of Sign Languages

• Both free and bound morphemes are present in signed languages, including:

  • Derivational processes:

    • Reduplication for verb-to-noun changes.

    • Reversal-of-orientation for negation.

    • Conversion from noun to verb.

    • Compounding: Combining independent signs.

    • Numerical incorporation: Integrating numbers into signs.

Syntax of Sign Languages

• Key aspects of signed language syntax:

  • Use of physical space to indicate grammatical roles (subject, object, etc.).

  • Topic-comment structure: Flexible word order where the topic is discussed followed by a comment on it.

  • Wh-movement generally occurring at the end of a phrase.

Study Reminders

• Quiz 6: Covers ASL linguistics: phonetic parameters, phonology, phonotactic constraints, morphology, syntax.

• Homework 4: On ASL/linguistics and theories of language acquisition.

New Vocabulary

• Old Hands: Reference to prior learning or knowledge in ASL.

• Observations on the evolution of ASL signs among learners.