Phonology Research Paper: Epenthesis SLS 4220: Sign Language Structure Instructor: Debbie Mitre-Smith By: Kathryn Cieslak

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1 Phonology Research Paper: Epenthesis SLS 4220: Sign Language Structure Instructor: Debbie Mitre-Smith By: Kathryn Cieslak Through linguistics, the study of language, we are able to understand and explain the rules and process of language and communication. Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, and Semantics are all vital components when it comes to understanding and using language to communicate. Phonology, in terms of spoken language, is the study of how sounds are structured in languages. It is a developed system enabling us to show and compare sound structure and formation from one language to the next. Phonology, as it applies to American Sign Language, is the study of how a sign is structured and produced. Within ASL phonology, there are five sign parameters: handshape (the shaped formed on the hand), movement (how the sign moves), location (where the sign is produced), orientation (which direction the palm of the hand faces), and nonmanual signals (cues, indications, and expressions shown on the face). Morphology shows the components of the structure of a word, and how they come together to form individual words. An example of morphology in spoken English is the addition of er to the end of a verb to change a verb into a noun. Adding er to the verb photograph creates the noun photographer. In ASL morphology, the same idea of a verb becoming a noun

2 can be expressed in multiple ways. Consider the verbs sit and write. In ASL, to transform the verb sit into the noun chair, the movement of the sign is repeated, a common occurrence when differentiating verbs and nouns in ASL. To transform the verb write, into the noun writer, the verb is signed, followed by an additional sign to represent person who writes. This additional sign is also a common occurrence in ASL when changing a verb into a noun which represents a person/profession/etc. Syntax is the study of sentence formation, and the grammatical rules which determine how sentences are structured, (and how sentences relate and influence each other). In spoken English, syntax determines the proper English word order. Consider the sentence We went to the store. Syntax determines why the sentence Went we to the store is grammatically inaccurate. ASL syntax differs greatly from English. The accurate ASL sentence would be structured Store, we go, finish. Finish indicates that the statement is past tense. Semantics is the study of the meaning within words and sentences. A small aspect of semantics regarding the meaning of sentences is paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is the use of different words and/or arrangements in a sentence resulting in the same meaning. In English, two sentences: I gave an apple to Sue, and I gave Sue an apple have the same meaning, yet are constructed differently. Paraphrasing also occurs in ASL. Using the same concept of giving an

3 apple to Sue, the following phrase is constructed differently yet results in the same information Sue (Point-Of-Reference, POR), apple, I give (-to), or Apple I give (-to) who? Sue. Epenthesis, in reference to spoken language, is the insertion of development of a sound or letter in the body of a word. (Merriam Webster, N.P.). This occurs for many reasons, often accidental, to improve production fluidity. Voiceless stop insertion is the insertion of an articulation mediator between a nasal consonant and a voiceless fricative. In English, the word strength is phonetically represented as strεŋθ (IPA Tables, N.P.). Each consonant consists of three parts: place of articulation, manner of articulation, and voiced or voiceless. Expressing the voiced consonant ŋ, the place of articulation is Velar, which is articulated by touching the back of the tongue to the forward part of the soft palate. The manner of articulation is Nasal, which is formed by closure to the mouth, with the soft palate lowered, so that air may pass through the nose. Next to it, the voiceless consonant θ has a Dental place of articulation, which is articulated by touching the tip of the tongue against the upper teeth. The manner of articulation is fricative which is formed by the narrowing of the air out of the mouth which creates audible friction (IPA Tables, N.P.). These two consonants share nothing in common. To ease the fluidity of verbally producing this word with two consonants that share nothing in common, a mediator is introduced which shares one aspect of production with each. The consonant k is introduced and strεŋθ becomes strεŋkθ (Valli,

4 Lucas, Mulrooney, and Villanueva, 289). The consonant k has the same place of articulation as ŋ, its manner of articulation is Plosive, and like θ, it is voiceless (IPA Tables, N.P.). This addition allows for an easier means of production and improves fluidity. In ASL, a similar process known as movement epenthesis occurs. When two signs are produced together to express one idea, a movement or change is inserted between the two to improve production fluidity. When signs are produced, there is a beginning location, one or more movements or holds, and then the final hold when the sign is finished. A transcription system was developed to represent and distinguish these (Valli, Lucas, Mulrooney, and Villanueva, 41-5). The three main symbols used are H, to represent a hold, X, to represent a length-flexible hold, and M to represent movement. The sign long is represented as XMH. X, where the sign begins (there is not a distinct hold length), M for the movement of the L -shaped dominant hand, going up the arm of the passive hand, and H for the final hold at the sign s completion. The sign time is also represented as XMH. X, where the sign begins (there is not a distinct hold length), M for the movement of the pointer finger of the dominant hand coming in contact with the top of the wrist of the passive hand, and H again represents the final hold at the sign s completion. When one takes the two signs and combines them to form the idea of a long time, there is a change made to allow fluidity amongst the two signs. While signing long, rather than completing the sign with a distinct hold ( H ), the

5 hold is removed. Rather than a flexible hold ( X ) at the beginning of the sign time, the two signs are merged with a movement ( M ) from the sign long, which continues to replace the beginning X of the sign time and ends in the final hold ( H ) position. Though English is a spoken language and American Sign Language is a visual one, both inherently use Epenthesis to adapt and alter production in order to increase production fluidity. Just like English has evolved over time within different cultures, ASL users will find new ways to more clearly and efficiently communicate via processes like Epenthesis. These phonological processes give the language a necessary flexibility, and are vital for ASL to continue developing in a positive direction.

6 Work Sited: Valli, Lucas, et al. Linguistics of American Sign Language. Washington D.C.: Gallaudet University Press, Fifth Edition Burton, Gideon O. "Epenthesis." Epenthesis. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, n.d. Web. 30 Sept < "Epenthesis About Our Definitions: All Forms of a Word (noun, Verb, Etc.) Are Now Displayed on One Page." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 30 Sept < "IPA Tables." IPA Tables. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept <