ASL Notes

ASL is or is not universal

  • ASL is not universal. Each sign language is distinct.

Deaf people's alternative to clapping

  • Deaf individuals wave their hands instead of clapping because they cannot hear clapping.

Example supporting ASL's non-universality

  • The sign for "walk" differs significantly between ASL and French Sign Language, demonstrating the non-universality of sign languages.

Representation of states in ASL

  • Most states are represented in ASL by fingerspelling their abbreviations. For example:
    • fs-CA for California

Two Main Grammar Structures in ASL

  • Topic-Comment: The topic is presented first, followed by a comment about the topic.
    • Example: "MOVIE, I LIKE."
  • Subject-Verb-Object (SVO): While ASL is flexible, SVO is also used.

Bridge Sign for "Because"

  • The sign "why" is used as a bridge to connect two sentences, meaning "because".
    • Example:
      • Sentence 1: I want to go to Hawaii in spring.
      • Sentence 2: The state is beautiful.
      • Combined: I want to go to Hawaii in spring BECAUSE the state is beautiful. (using the sign for "why" as "because")

Deixis in ASL

  • Deixis, used for pronouns (I, ME, SHE, YOU…), employs the handshape of the number 1.
    • This involves pointing to indicate the subject.

Handshape for Possessive Pronouns

  • An open B handshape (or a 5 handshape flipped) is used for possessive pronouns (YOUR, HIS, MY …).

Reasons Deaf People Live in Major Cities

  • Jobs: More job opportunities are available.
  • Schools for deaf children: Specialized educational institutions are located in or near cities.
  • More interpreters: Access to interpreters for various needs.
  • Social opportunities: Greater community and social events.

Acquiring a Name Sign

  • Name signs are typically given after forming friendships with Deaf individuals.

Two kinds of name signs

  • Arbitrary: Based on the person's first few letters of their first name.
  • Descriptive: Reflects the person's personality or interests.

Sign LOVE vs. LOVE-IT

  • LOVE: Used for people.
  • LOVE-IT: Used to express liking or appreciation for something.

Representing "And" in ASL

  • "And" is shown by taking a brief pause or by nodding your head.

Indicating "Or" in ASL

  • The sign “which” is often used to indicate “or" in ASL.

Rule for Signing Numbers 1-5

  • When signing numbers 1-5, the palm always faces you.

Rule Change for Double-Digit Numbers

  • When signing double-digit numbers (e.g., 57, 42), the palm orientation changes and does not face you.

Technology for Deaf Communication

  • TTY (Teletypewriter): A device similar to a keyboard and telephone, allowing Deaf individuals to communicate over the phone.
  • TTY features a small screen to display text, providing an alternative to using FaceTime on smartphones.

Signing Months

  • February: fs-FEB
  • September: fs-SEPT
  • March: fs-March