Describing People:
Lessons
Based on Master ASL, J. Zinza
© 2011 Natasha Escalada-Westland
Unit 8
Describing People: Goals
• To describe people’s physical
appearances
• To describe personality traits and
characteristics
• To improve ASL narrative skills
• To learn about Deaf-Blind communication
• To discuss health issues
• To describe the natural world and
environment
Unit 8
Based on Master ASL Level One by Jason Zinza
Describing Physical
Characteristics, p. 294
In general, Follow this sequence:
1. Gender
2. Ethnicity / background (optional)
But remember; a
strongly
identifying trait
will often be
enough for a brief
description.
3. Height
4. Body type
5. Eyes, hair and other details such
as clothing
Unit 8
Describing Physical
Characteristics, p. 294
There are cultural (and personal) differences in
what Deaf people and hearing people view as
polite.
Deaf:
Hearing:
“He’s a big
African-American
guy.”
“He’s fluffy.”
Unit 8
This sentence is
not considered
rude unless you
exaggerate or
pair it with a
negative or
disgusted look
on your face.
Body
Unit 8
To be bald, p. 295
Unit 8
To be chubby, fat, p. 295
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Face, p. 295
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Freckles, acne (add red for acne),
p. 295
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Gut, belly, p. 295
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Hair, p. 295
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To be in good shape
(average,medium), p. 295
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To look like, strongly resemble,
p. 295
Unit 8
To lose weight, slim down, p. 295
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To be pregnant, p. 295
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To be thin, p. 295
Unit 8
To be well built, muscular, p. 295
Unit 8
When describing people:
• Point toward these body parts – eyes,
ears, nose
• Short and tall share the same signs as
child and adult
• Fingerspell DA for disabled and HC for
handicapped
• First sign hair, then add the color
Unit 8
Signing about Ethnicity or Skin
Color
Deaf (often feel):
Be respectful!
Don’t exaggerate or
use unflattering facial
expressions
Detailed description of race
or body type is matter of
fact; a description of what
the eyes see.
Remember:
One sign may carry
several concepts –
Hearing (often feel):
Detailed description of race
or body type may be
considered impolite.
Hispanic/Latino/Mexican
Black/African American
White/Caucasian
Indian/Native American
Unit 8
Skin, Ethnicity, p. 297
Unit 8
Asian
Unit 8
Black, African, African-American,
p. 297
Unit 8
From India, East Indian, p.297
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American Indian, Native-American,
p. 297
Unit 8
Latino/a, Hispanic, Mexican, p. 297
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Arab (Middle Eastern), p. 297
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White, Caucasian, p. 297
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Half, p. 297
Unit 8
To Mix, mixed race, p. 297
Unit 8
Regions of the World
Unit 8
Asking about background
I was
wondering
(curious)
where you’re
from?
What race or
ethnicity are
your parents
(or family)?
Unit 8
Deaf Native Americans, p. 299
For hundreds of years Native Americans, particularly the Plains
Indians, have used sign language to communicate. It is certain that
American Sign Language borrowed signs from this sign language,
similar to the way English speakers borrow words from other
languages. The Deaf native American community is proud of their
rich legacy of sign languages. The Intertribal Deaf council works
hard on behalf of Deaf Native Americans to preserve their unique
heritage and promote awareness of their valuable contributions to
the Deaf World. To learn more visit –
http://www.deafnative.com/home.htm
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=tommyfoley&p=r
http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/native_american_sign_language.
htm
Unit 8
Describe each person to a partner
following correct the ASL sequence.
Unit 8
Describe each illustration using the
correct sequence.
Unit 8
Match the English words or
phrases to the best signed concept.
1. Drop a few pounds
2. Skinny
3. Pot belly
4. Muffin top
5. Acne
6. Obese
7. Balding
8. Get in shape
9. Plump
10. Buff
11. Spare tire
Unit 8
Resemblances – Using the signs look like and look
strong, describe each pair below. Use a complete
sentence to tell if they are similar or not.
Unit 8
Each picture gives information about a person’s
background and ethnicity. Explain using a
complete sentence.
YOU?
Unit 8
Describe the people below using a
complete sentence
Unit 8
Translate each sentence into an ASL sentence.
Use alternative signs for ethnicity. Use the sign
bank on the right.
1. I am African American.
2. They are from Asia.
3. We are Asian Americans.
4. She is Mexican American.
5. I am Native American and Black.
6. He is half White, half Middle
Eastern.
Unit 8
Describing Ethnicity
Describe the ethnicity of your family or friends.
Create a dialogue with a partner comparing
and contrasting backgrounds and ethnicities of
yourself or your friends. How do you identify
yourself? Where is your family from? Your
dialogue should include the following:
1. Greetings
2. Discussion of ethnicity/background
3. Plans to meet again
4. A farewell
Unit 8
Handicapped or Disabled?
Consider the following:
• Disability = not-able
• Handicap = anything that makes success more difficult
• If being “normal” means succeeding in a career or
school, starting and raising a family, and actively
participating in one’s community, then what does it mean
when a Deaf person achieves those goals? What about
somone who does not have a disability and doesn’t
achieve certain life goals?
• The word “handicapped” describes a person who is
unable to function owing to some property of the
environment. Therefore, someone requiring a wheelchair
may or may not be handicapped, depending on whether
ramps are available. Using this criteria, who else could
be considered handicapped?
• Do you find the labels Handicapped and Disabled
accurate or useful? Why or why not?
Unit 8
Hair
Unit 8
Hairstyles
Unit 8
p. 301
Hairstyles
Unit 8
p. 301
To brush one’s
hair
Unit 8
7
p. 259
To comb one’s hair, p.259
Unit 8
7
To blow dry
one’s hair
Unit 8
7
p. 259
To Braid
Unit 8
To shave (2
variations)
Unit 8
7
p. 259
Hairstyles
Practice Page
Unit 8
Using Classifiers to Describe
What CL handshape would you use to sign the concepts below?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A Line of people
Rope
A crew/buzz cut
Cornrows
Pigtails
A little bit of water
A stray hair
A soul patch
Classifier Handshapes
Unit 8
A Good Hair Day, MASL p. 303
Watch the DVD and answer the following questions.
1. What do you think these 3 signs mean? Why?
2. Why does Kelly think working there could be
fun?
3. What does Kelly think she can do while
working?
4. What are some reasons you think would
change Kelly’s mind?
5. What do you think about Kelly’s idea?
Unit 8
What I Look Like, MASL p. 303
Watch the DVD and answer the following questions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is Kelly’s ethnicity?
Is Kelly tall or short?
Is she wearing sandals?
How does Kelly wear her hair?
What 3 words does Kelly fingerspell?
Unit 8
Personality & Character
Unit 8
Afraid
Unit 8
Broken-hearted, grieving (grief)
Unit 8
Embarrassed
Unit 8
Emotional
Unit 8
Frustrated
Once:
“I’m frustrated!”
Ongoing:
“I have been frustrated for
awhile (over and over)!”
Unit 8
Motormouth, talkative
Unit 8
Nervous, anxious, jumpy
Unit 8
Nosy, In other people’s business
Unit 8
Personality
Unit 8
Polite, formal
Unit 8
Rude, disrespectful
Unit 8
Strong, (confident, courageous,)
Unit 8
Weak, puny
Unit 8
Worry
Unit 8
to Tend to (do something)
Unit 8
“Deaf tend their…”
Culturally Deaf people tend to do these things…
Something Deaf people do…
Unit 8
Signing Traits
Complete the following sentences using the suggested
vocabulary.
Suggested Vocabulary
I don’t mind…
I always…
Sometimes I…
afraid
nervous
frustrated
talkative
heartbroken
polite
nosy
embarrassed
rude
In the past, I…
I never…
I don’t like…
Unit 8
S/he tends to…
Complete the sentence with each concept below. Include the correct
facial expression.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Shy
Emotional
Nosy
Worry
Embarrassed
Frustrated
Nervous
Broken-hearted
Motor-mouth
Unit 8
Which community exhibits the
following traits and beliefs?
1. Breaking eye contact is rude
2. It takes a long time to say goodbye
3. Don’t like facial expressions
4. Love to get together and chat
5. Love music
6. Stop to chat when someone says
“How are you?”
7. Often hug and shake hands when
saying hello or good-bye
8. Believe nosiness is bad
9. Believe nosiness is good
Deaf people tend to…
10. Always stop to say “Hello” and
“How are you?”
Unit 8
Hearing people tend to…
Personality Quiz – MASL, p. 309
Unit 8
Good & Bad Traits
Make a list with a partner outlining personality
traits you like and dislike in a friend. Then
describe your ideal friend in complete ASL
sentences.
• Positive Traits
• Negative Traits
Unit 8
Match the signs to their opposites
1
5
2
6
3
4
9
a
e
i
b
f
j
10
7
c
8
d
Unit 8
g
h
1
5
2
6
3
4
9
a
e
i
b
f
j
10
7
c
8
d
g
h
Answers: 1c, 2d, 3b, 4j, Unit
5i, 6f,
7h, 8g, 9e, 10a
8
My Friend Tara - MASL p. 310
Respond to the following in complete sentences:
1. List 3 of Tara’s personality traits:
a. _____________
b. _____________
c. _____________
2.
3.
4.
5.
Big-head, know-it-all, arrogant
What is one of Tara’s pet peeves?
What does Tara enjoy doing?
Which sports does Tara play?
Sean & Tara are good friends despite
what?
Unit 8
Health
Unit 8
Alright, okay
Unit 8
Allergies, to be Allergic
Unit 8
to be Better
Unit 8
Chicken pox
Unit 8
have a Cold, Sniffles
Unit 8
to Cough
Unit 8
Doctor
Unit 8
Feel
Unit 8
Fever
Variation 2
Unit 8
Heal, Get better
Unit 8
Medicine
Unit 8
Nauseated, sick to one’s stomach
Unit 8
Sneeze
Variation 2
Unit 8
Sore throat
Unit 8
to Sprain
Unit 8
Remove tonsils
Unit 8
to Vomit
Unit 8
To catch or have (an illness), get
(sick)
POW!
Unit 8
Response to a sneeze
Variation 2
Unit 8
to Hurt, pain:
this sign moves location depending on where the pain is
headache
Variation 2
Stomach ache
Unit 8
Blood, to Bleed
this sign moves location depending on where the blood is
Bloody nose
Bloody arm
Unit 8
“POW!”
Use the “POW!” sign to sign each phrase in ASL.
1. I got sick.
2. Out of the blue I didn’t feel so good.
3. My allergies started acting up
yesterday.
4. He has the chicken pox.
5. I just started coughing.
Unit 8
How do they feel?
Tell a partner using a full sentence in ASL.
1
2
4
3
5
Unit 8
What should they do?
Use the pictures and tell a partner what’s wrong, and if the
person(?) needs to see a doctor, stay home and rest, or
take medicine.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Unit 8
Unit 8
Description Dialogue Rubric
Names:
2
3
4
5
-Greetings
-Physical description &
ethnicity
-Personality
-Plans to meet again
-Farewell
3 or more elements
missing
2 elements missing
1 element missing
All elements present
Non Manual Signals
Few or no NMS
Some correct NMS
Many correct NMS
NMS present
throughout with
correct timing
Sign Production
(HOLM)
3 or more incorrect
signs
2 incorrect signs
1 incorrect sign
All signs produced
correctly
Fluency /
Smoothness of
signing
Very halting, many
unnatural pauses
Somewhat halting,
several unnatural
pauses
Mostly smooth, little
hesitancy
No hesitancy, very
smooth
Unit 8
The Natural World
Unit 8
Earth, geography
Unit 8
Dirt, sand, soil
Unit 8
Grass
Unit 8
Desert
Unit 8
Flower
Unit 8
Hill
Unit 8
Island
Unit 8
Lake
Unit 8
Moon
Unit 8
Mountain
Unit 8
Plant
Unit 8
River
Unit 8
Stars
Unit 8
Sun
Variation 2
Unit 8
Tree
Unit 8
Cactus
Classifier for saguaro:
When describing a tall,
many-branched saguaro
cactus, use the
handshape below, after
signing cactus.
Unit 8
Describe the scene below in as
much detail as you can.
Unit 8
Describe the scene below in as
much detail as you can.
Unit 8
Describe the scene below in as
much detail as you can.
Unit 8
Describe the scene below in as
much detail as you can.
Unit 8
Describe the scene below in as
much detail as you can.
Unit 8
Jason Zinza, 2007
Respond to the following questions
based on the sentence below
1. What is the relationship between hill
and valley? What kind of a sign is
this?
2. How does additional movement
change tree into forest or many
trees?
3. Why do gold and California share
the same sign?
Unit 8
Recently, when hiking in the mountains, I saw a
beautiful valley with a lake and forest of red and
gold leaves.