MORPHOLOGY
Morphology is the study of the smallest meaningful unit in a language, or the study of word formation.
Building New Signs
The smallest meaningful unit in a language is called a morpheme. In this study of ASL Linguistics there are two different morphology processes called derivational morphology and inflectional morphology.
Derivational morphology is the process of making new units for the language by adding affixes. Such is the case when creating a noun from a verb. For example, adding the suffix "-r" to the end of the verb "write" to create the noun "writer".
Inflectional Morphology is the process of adding grammatical information to units that already exist. For example, changing the word "look" to "looks" or "looking" by adding the suffixes "-s" and "-ing".
[Homework 6]
Deriving Nouns from Verbs
Another way that verbs are made into nouns are by the stresses made in either the first or second syllable, such as in "subject"- another word for "topic" or the act of being placed under another's authority. In ASL there are noun-verb pairs that differ only in movement, such as in SIT and CHAIR. SIT involves simply placing one hand on top of the other while CHAIR involves a double tap of one hand on top of the other.
More examples of noun-verb pairs:
[Homework 7]
Compounds
New signs can also be created by putting together two words to form a new word. For example, the words "green" and "house" can be combined to form "greenhouse". In ASL the signs THINK and OPPOSITE are compounded to create a sign that means "to disagree with". There are more compound signs that can be created from compounding THINK with other signs, such as THINK-WARP, THINK-SELF, THINK-SAME-AS, THINK-TOUCH.
[Homework 8]
Fingerspelling
Fingerspelling is another way that signs can be created. Fingerspelling also tends to blend together such that it looks like an individual sign. This is called lexicalization. Some examples of this are #BANK, #OFF, and #BUS.
This lexicalization processes includes deletion of signs, change of location, orientation, and handshape, added movement and a second hand, and reduplication of movement.
Let's have a further look at some fingerspelled words. In the lexicalized fingerspelling of #BUT the U sign is deleted; and in the sign #OFF the sign acquired a movement that led away from the signer.
Some signs are also fingerspelled for different purposes. For example, C-L-O-W-N could be fingerspelled before the sign CLOWN for clarification purposes. Another example would be fingerspelling W-A-S. Normally, in ASL you would indicate the 'when' of the story at the beginning of the sentence, however, if you were to indicate the 'when' of the story at the end of the sentence then it would be easier and more straightforward to fingerspell W-A-S.
[Homework 9]
Numeral Incorporation
Here we look at how number handshapes can be incorporated to create signs with more meaning. For example, in the pictures below the 3 handshape is incorporated into the sign MONTH to create the new sign THREE-MONTHS.
Pictures courtesy of lifeprint.com
Building New Signs
The smallest meaningful unit in a language is called a morpheme. In this study of ASL Linguistics there are two different morphology processes called derivational morphology and inflectional morphology.
Derivational morphology is the process of making new units for the language by adding affixes. Such is the case when creating a noun from a verb. For example, adding the suffix "-r" to the end of the verb "write" to create the noun "writer".
Inflectional Morphology is the process of adding grammatical information to units that already exist. For example, changing the word "look" to "looks" or "looking" by adding the suffixes "-s" and "-ing".
[Homework 6]
Deriving Nouns from Verbs
Another way that verbs are made into nouns are by the stresses made in either the first or second syllable, such as in "subject"- another word for "topic" or the act of being placed under another's authority. In ASL there are noun-verb pairs that differ only in movement, such as in SIT and CHAIR. SIT involves simply placing one hand on top of the other while CHAIR involves a double tap of one hand on top of the other.
More examples of noun-verb pairs:
- CAR and DRIVING
- FOOD and EATING
[Homework 7]
Compounds
New signs can also be created by putting together two words to form a new word. For example, the words "green" and "house" can be combined to form "greenhouse". In ASL the signs THINK and OPPOSITE are compounded to create a sign that means "to disagree with". There are more compound signs that can be created from compounding THINK with other signs, such as THINK-WARP, THINK-SELF, THINK-SAME-AS, THINK-TOUCH.
[Homework 8]
Fingerspelling
Fingerspelling is another way that signs can be created. Fingerspelling also tends to blend together such that it looks like an individual sign. This is called lexicalization. Some examples of this are #BANK, #OFF, and #BUS.
This lexicalization processes includes deletion of signs, change of location, orientation, and handshape, added movement and a second hand, and reduplication of movement.
Let's have a further look at some fingerspelled words. In the lexicalized fingerspelling of #BUT the U sign is deleted; and in the sign #OFF the sign acquired a movement that led away from the signer.
Some signs are also fingerspelled for different purposes. For example, C-L-O-W-N could be fingerspelled before the sign CLOWN for clarification purposes. Another example would be fingerspelling W-A-S. Normally, in ASL you would indicate the 'when' of the story at the beginning of the sentence, however, if you were to indicate the 'when' of the story at the end of the sentence then it would be easier and more straightforward to fingerspell W-A-S.
[Homework 9]
Numeral Incorporation
Here we look at how number handshapes can be incorporated to create signs with more meaning. For example, in the pictures below the 3 handshape is incorporated into the sign MONTH to create the new sign THREE-MONTHS.
Pictures courtesy of lifeprint.com
Signs that involve numbers usually involve numeral incorporation. Signs involved in height, first, second, third, etc. place, tv channel, period of time, and dollar amount can include numeral incorporation. For example, to indicate a dollar amount hold up hand, palm forward, in front of chest area in the handshape of the appropriate number and then turn the hand around in a quick motion so the palm is now facing the signer.
[Homework 10]
[Homework 10]