PHONOLOGY
Phonology is the study of how signs are structured and organized.
There are five basic parts to ASL signs:
There are many signs that will have the same parameters for handshape, movement and location. The following list shows signs that demonstrate the same handshape, movement or location of the original sign:
There are five basic parts to ASL signs:
- Handshape
- Movement
- Location
- Orientation
- Nonmanual signs (NMS) or facial expression
There are many signs that will have the same parameters for handshape, movement and location. The following list shows signs that demonstrate the same handshape, movement or location of the original sign:
Initial Word
|
Same Handshape
|
Same Movement
|
Same Location
|
[Homework 1]
Handshapes are a very important part of ASL. For each of the words in the following list there is a handshape that can be associated with its respective sign:
[Homework 2]
- GIRL: A handshape
- ELEVATOR: E handshape
- SPAGHETTI: I handshape
- AWKWARD: V and L handshape
- TRAVEL: Bent V handshape
- PLAY: Y handshape
[Homework 2]
The Stokoe System
William C. Stokoe proposed a different set of parameters to ASL: location, handshape and movement. He devised a whole set of written signs to indicate and ASL sign. Here is an example of of signs transcribed using the Stokoe System. Each symbol has a meaning as to location, handshape and movement.
[Homework 3]
The LIddell and Johnson Movement-Hold Model
Scott K. Liddell and Robert E. Johnson developed a system that represented the structure or signs called the Movement-Hold Model. They claim that signs consist of hold segments and movement segments that are produced sequentially. For example, the signs COLOR and STARE have a Hold (H) structure, and the signs ME and THINK have an X M H structure. These letters X, M, and H represent the initial hold segment that is usually shorter than the final hold segment, the movement segment, and the final hold segment, respectively.
There is also a chart that they devised that accompanies this transcription system. Here is an example of a simplified Movement-Hold transcription schema for the sign CHAIR:
There is also a chart that they devised that accompanies this transcription system. Here is an example of a simplified Movement-Hold transcription schema for the sign CHAIR:
[Homework 4]
Phonological Processes
Variations in sign structure vary and these are due to phonological processes such as movement epenthesis, hold reduction, metathesis, assimilation and weak hand deletion.
Movement epenthesis involves adding a movement in between signs.
Hold reduction shortens the holds between movements when signs occur in sequence.
Metathesis is the process of changing the location of the sign.
Assimilation means that a segment takes on the characteristics of another segment.
Weak hand deletion means that the weak/passive hand is deleted from two-handed signs.
An example of assimilation is in the sign for CHRISTMAS-TIME:
CHRISTMAS-TIME
M-H M-H
The assimilation occurs from the first Hold in CHRISTMAS to the Movement in TIME. So the movement hold notation would change from X-M-H-M-H to X-M-X-M-H and this assimilation would be a handshape assimilation.
[Homework 5]
Movement epenthesis involves adding a movement in between signs.
Hold reduction shortens the holds between movements when signs occur in sequence.
Metathesis is the process of changing the location of the sign.
Assimilation means that a segment takes on the characteristics of another segment.
Weak hand deletion means that the weak/passive hand is deleted from two-handed signs.
An example of assimilation is in the sign for CHRISTMAS-TIME:
CHRISTMAS-TIME
M-H M-H
The assimilation occurs from the first Hold in CHRISTMAS to the Movement in TIME. So the movement hold notation would change from X-M-H-M-H to X-M-X-M-H and this assimilation would be a handshape assimilation.
[Homework 5]