Pronouns and Verb Types in Sign Language
Pronouns Overview
Last week's focus was on personal pronouns.
Discussion includes a student's consultation request and email confusion, specifically about Shania Wahi and communication through a messaging center.
Nonmanual Pronouns
Introduction to nonmanual pronouns, emphasizing the articulation of pronouns without hand gestures.
Definition of nonmanual articulators:
Refers to body parts other than hands used to articulate meaning in sign language.
Examples include: lips, eyes, tongue.
Usage of nonmanual pronouns:
Typically used in reference to third-person pronouns without the individual being referred to being aware.
Examples of articulation:
Lip pointing: Extending lips in the direction of a person to indicate them without using hands.
Eye gazing: Looking towards the individual being discussed.
Tongue sticking out: Briefly extending the tongue towards the referent.
Cultural reference to Caribbean gestures used when discussing others, like pointing towards a distant person.
Fingertip Pronouns
Introduction to fingertip pronouns (also known as ordinal tip loci):
When using fingertips to refer back to previously mentioned individuals in sign language.
Listing entities: Using fingertips to enumerate people or things, and then referring back by pointing to those fingertips.
Example process to create fingertip pronouns:
Assign each fingertip a name in the context of a discussion (e.g., listing student leaders).
When referencing a fingertip again, it becomes a pronoun indicating that specific person.
Steps for creating fingertip pronouns:
Assign a handshape corresponding to the items being listed.
Reference back to the fingertip to convey additional information about the entity associated with that fingertip.
Clarifications on how to establish the noun before the fingertip in conversations, akin to how pronouns work in English.
Directionality and Verb Types
Directional verbs:
Definition: Verbs that use movement to indicate agreement between subject and object.
Example verbs include tell and give where:
Starting point indicates the subject.
Ending point indicates the object.
Discussion on whether certain verbs can be classified as plain verbs or directional verbs depending on their context and usage.
Palm orientation verbs:
Verbs that mark agreement through the orientation of the palm (the back of the hand faces the subject, while the palm faces the object).
Examples include expressions of hate or love, with context depending on orientation.
Locative verbs:
Uses specific locations to denote where an action occurs (e.g., pain in a specific body part).
Summary of how movement and directionality impact the meaning of verbs, especially in distinguishing between plain, directional, and palm orientation verbs.
Tense and Temporal Expression
Utilization of temporal expressions to indicate tense which include signs for past (ago), present (now), and future (tomorrow).
Importance of placing temporal expressions at the beginning or end of sentences for clarity in tense marking.
Discussion on how to translate sentences incorporating tense and different time markers into sign language.
Classroom Environment and Testing
Clarifications given on the upcoming receptive skills test, its structure, and expectations regarding camera usage and test environment.
Formatting details for upcoming exams, emphasizing the need for adherence to the structured timeframes and proper conduct during the assessments.
Guidelines for class access, including monitoring during tests and how to manage requests for different examination times or batches.
Dialogue on bilingualism in sign language and the importance of understanding both Jamaican Sign Language and English for effective communication within the educational framework.