American Sign Language and ASL Linguistics

Transcription

1 American Sign Language and ASL Linguistics LING 200 University of Washington February 6, 2009 Lance Forshay, Presenter Please do not copy, distribute, revise, photocopy or even sell. But you may download and keep for your own personal notes.

2 Agenda Nature of ASL and relevant questions. American Deaf Culture Brief History of Sign Languages ASL and Deaf Studies at UW. ASL phonetics and phonology

3 Presenter Lance A. Forshay, M.S. ASL Lecturer and Program Coordinator Department of Linguistics University of Washington, Seattle. President of Washington ASL Teacher Association. (National) ASL Teacher Association member. Washington State Association of the Deaf Member Deaf Bilingual Coalition - Washington Fourth of five Deaf generations.

4 The Nature of ASL Is ASL A Visual-Gestural Language? Yes. ASL contains 60% Gestural-Body Language and Facial Expressions. Some iconic signs: Ex. BASEBALL, CAR, SMILE, GRAB However ASL is different from common gestures hearing people use. Some arbitrary signs: MAN, NAME, HOPE, YESTERDAY, IMPROVE

5 The Nature of ASL Is ASL A fully developed language? Yes. ASL contains all linguistic characteristics that make ASL a language different and independent from English language.

6 The Nature of ASL Is ASL A language you can use to communicate complicated topics with philosophical ideas, politics, sports, education, science, comedy, or express in drama, storytelling, poetry or anything else like you do with English? Yes! with no limitations.

7 The Nature of ASL Is ASL A changing language? Yes. Like all languages, ASL does change over time and varies within regions (accents). Some old ASL signs disappear, simplify or assimilate with other word signs into new signs. (Compound and Contractions)

8 The Nature of ASL Is ASL Universal? No. Almost every country has its own sign language just like spoken language. There are about 100 known sign languages around the world

9 The Nature of ASL Is ASL Used in other countries? Yes, some. ASL is used by Deaf people in Canada and few other countries with historical background of deaf education established by American educators and church missionaries for the deaf such as Nigera, Kenya, Philippines, Belize and some parts of India.

10 The Nature of ASL Is ASL Used in British countries? No. ASL is totally different from British Sign Language used in the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, and Wales), Australia, and New Zealand.

11 American Deaf Culture What is Deaf Culture? A group of Deaf people who uses American Sign Language, lives by a set of norms and values of the Deaf community, shares the Deaf heritage and traditions, and involves as a member of Deaf community. ASL is the key to the heart of Deaf culture and you have to understand Deaf culture to master ASL at higher level. D eaf versus deaf. Matter of identity and belonging to Deaf community. Not necessarily hereditary.

12 ASL Timeline Old LSF Old ASL American Sign Language 1817 MVSL (BSL?)

13 ASL Timeline American Sign Language 1817: American School for the Deaf s Methodological Signs 1860: Standardization / Deaf College 1880: Milan, SL banned worldwide / NAD 1910 s: Peak of Oralism / Veditz Video 1960 s: Stokoe s ASL Research / NTD 1970 s: MCE / NAD: SIGN / Deaf Studies 1980 s: Bi-Bi / DPN / Deaf Way I 1990 s: ASL Education / ASLTA 2000 s: Deaf Way II / VP-VRS / UFG

14 ASL in Washington state Washington State Law passed in July 1984 to recognize ASL as a language and that it may be used for foreign language credit in secondary and post-secondary level education. (WAC for secondary and postsecondary.) For more information on other state legislations on ASL.

15 ASL & Deaf Studies Program at UW Regularly offered since Aut 2007 First year with one teacher. Two sections for each class, ASL 101, 102 and 103. Over 300 students on waiting list for ASL 101 classes last year and again this year. Permanent funds from the state and private foundations. ASL 305 Introduction to Deaf Studies. ASL 134 Intensive first year summer ASL course. LING 403 ASL Linguistics Signing community with Deaf staff, students and other ASL students.

16 Phonetic parameters of ASL signs Manual ways in which signs can differ Handshape Location Movement Orientation Number of hands Non-manual ways in which signs can differ

17 Handshape Minimal pairs APPLE vs. CANDY SEATTLE vs. NEUTRAL LIKE vs. WHITE Signs which change handshape UNDERSTAND HOW MANY

18 Location Minimal pairs APPLE vs. ONION LUCKY vs. CLEVER THIRTEEN vs. CUTE Signs which change location DEAF FUN KING

19 Movement Different types of movement straight: SEPARATED angled: PERCENT looping: WASHINGTON wiggling: COLOR twisting: CHRISTMAS nodding: YES Minimal pairs TOUGH vs. PHYSICS CAN vs. SHOES BROWN vs. BEER

20 Orientation Minimal pairs MEET vs. I MEET YOU NAME vs. CHAIR SOCK vs. STAR Signs which change orientation DIE/DEAD CLASS

21 Number of hands One-handed signs MOTHER COOL ( with it ) Two-handed signs DEER HERE BICYCLE Minimal pairs PURPLE vs. PARTY

22 Non-manual expressions Signs articulated with non-manual OH I SEE Minimal pairs HERE vs. WHAT LATE vs. NOT YET AGE vs. HOW-OLD HOT vs. VERY HOT

23 Assimilation In handshape I NAME I AM NAMED BOY FRIEND BOYFRIEND Change in handshape over time YEAR

24 Symmetry condition if both hands move independently during a given two-handed sign...then the specifications for handshape and movement must be identical, and the orientations must be either identical or polar opposites (reciprocals). Locations...must also be specifed either as symmetrical or as polar opposites. (Battison 1974)

25 If handshapes identical One hand can move PAPER Or both hands can move DIE/DEAD

26 But if handshapes not identical Only one hand can move DRAW no signs where both hands move independently phonological restriction

27 Questions