MASTER ASL! IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW….

1. MASTER ASL! IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW….

2. GLOSSING pgs. 129 – 130 in your workbook • Developed by ASL teachers for HEARING students. • Deaf people do NOT write in GLOSS. • Glossing is a system of using one language to write another.

3. GLOSSINGpgs. 129 – 130 in your workbook • Every sign has one gloss. • Some ASL signs need 2 or more English words to convey meaning. Ex: WHAT’S-UP = 1 sign • Glossing is labeling. Label ONLY what is signed. Don’t add ENGLISH words that are not signed. Is, are, am….

4. GLOSSING pgs. 129 – 130 in your workbook • The gloss for each sign is in the index of your workbook. • When writing in GLOSS you must print in CAPITAL LETTERS.

5. EYE CONTACT • Deaf Culture: No eye contact = rude. • When signing or watching someone sign always look them in the eye. • No eye contact = not paying attention, day dreaming, not interested.

6. THE SIGN SPACE • Sign Space = where most signs are made during normal conversation. • Outside sign space is uncomfortable on your hands, wrists and shoulders • Most signs  centered to the right or left of your middle torso.

7. WHICH HAND DO I USE? • Sign with the hand you write. • The hand you sign with most often is the DOMINANT HAND. • The other hand is the NON-DOMINANT HAND.

8. Facial Expressions • Monotone Voice = boring. • Signing without facial expressions = boring. • Tone of voice, emotion and intent must be made visual through facial expressions. • Facial expressions show emotion, meaning and ASL grammar.

9. Precision is Important • Signing Clearly same as Speaking Clearly • Sloppy, uncertain signing same as mumbling • Location changes meaning : SUMMER, TO-BE-UGLY, DRY • ASL makes visual sense.

10. ASL IS NOT ENGLISH • Think in ASL don’t match ASL signs to English words. • If you “mouth” words or talk silently while signing that is not ASL. • Deaf people sometimes sign and mouth English words at the same time if they are speaking with hearing people not fluent in ASL.

11. ASL IS NOT ENGLISH • ASL is the only real sign language in America. • Not SEE, PSE • If you don’t use ASL syntax (order of words in sentences) you are not signing in ASL.

12. FINGERSPELLING • FS not a subsitute for signs you don’t know. • Specific purposes-specific signing space • Names, places, specific words there are not signs for (i.e., broccoli)

13. FIVE PARAMETERS OF ASL • ASL signs can be broken down into 5 separate features. • Correct sign = all 5 parameters are correct • Handshape, Palm Orientation, Location, Movement, NMS-facial expressions

14. HANDSHAPE, PALM ORIENTATION • Handshape difference like ME and MY, or 1/D, D/F, E/O. • Palm Orientation-unsure if sign faces up, down, left or right. • Nervous signing, or signing without practice = PO mistakes. • Ex: TABLE OVER-THERE

15. LOCATION • Most signs  In front of your body-comfortable • If arms feel awkward = wrong location • Some signs start close to body and move away or vice versa • Ex: SEE-YOU TOMORROW, GIVE-ME YOUR BOOK

16. MOVEMENT • Movement affects meaning. • Hands and arms feel awkward or constricted? Check sign’s movement. • EX: I’M HAPPY, I’M ENJOYING

17. NON-MANUAL SIGNALS/ FACIAL EXPRESSIONS • NMS alter meaning. • Facial expressions, head nods/shakes, eyebrows, nose, eyes and lips carry meaning. • EX: I’M LATE, I HAVEN’T