Unit Three Handout
(Any commentary is from Dr. Bill at ASL University on Lifeprint)
Topicalization
Now that we have got the word ordering out of the way, let’s talk more about the Object, Subject
Verb Order. As a general rule, when we use this particular word order, we tend to use
topicalization. What is that?
Well, topicalization is not the same thing as Topic-Comment. Topic-Comment is stating a topic
and then making a comment about that topic. So let’s talk about what it is.
Topicalization is the process of using a certain set of behaviors and/or expressions to introduce
the object of your sentence and turn it into your topic. So if I signed BALL, BOY THROW, I’d
raise my eyebrows when I sign the word BALL, and then relax my eyebrows as I sign the
comment BOY THROW. If he threw it far, I’d frown and tilt my head back. The comment of
your sentence your facial expression should match the intent of the comment: negation,
affirmation, declaration, et cetera.
At this point in the discussion you might be wondering: "When should I use passive voice
instead of active voice?” (BALL, BOY THROW instead of BOY THROW BALL).
Another way to ask that same question is, "When should you use topicalization?"
Yet, another way to ask that same question, "When should you put the object at the front of the
sentence while raising your eyebrows?"
There are several situations when you should topicalize. A few examples applying to ASL are:
A.
When the subject is unknown: MY WALLET? GONE!
I don't know why it is missing, if it was stolen, or who stole it.
To sign this with active voice I would sign something to the effect of, "SOMEONE STOLE MY
WALLET" – which takes longer.
B.
Irrelevancy: MY CAR? SOLD!
It doesn't really matter who sold it. Just that the process is over. So why should I waste time
explaining who sold it?
C.
Efficiency and/or Expediency: MY CELL PHONE? FOUND!
If I explained to you last week that was at the county fair and lost my text messaging device I
don't want to have to explain it to you again if you still remember what had happened. So I sign
"CELLPHONE" with my eyebrows up and if you nod in recognition, I go ahead and tell you that
it was found.
D.
Clarification: MY SISTER SON? HE GRADUATE.
Perhaps you know that I have more than one nephew. If I signed “MY NEPHEW GRADUATE”
you still don’t know for sure “who” graduated. It is more effective to clarify that it was my
sister’s son that graduated and not my brother’s son.
Some instructors overemphasize topicalization or give the impression that the majority of ASL
communication is topicalized. The fact is many ASL sentences are simply “Subject, Verb(transitive), Object” example: "INDEX BOY THROW BALL" (“The boy threw the ball.”) or are
Subject-Verb (intransitive), for example: "HE LEFT."
So, let’s review that again. Topicalization means that you are using the object of the sentence as
the topic and introducing it using a yes/no question expression (raised eye brows and head
slightly tilted forward) followed by a comment.
A Topic-Comment sentence can either topicalized or non-topicalized:
A. Topicalized
1. YOUR MOM? I MET YESTERDAY!
Your mom is the topic and the sentence is in Object-Verb-Subject word
order
2. MY CAT? DIED!
My cat is the topic and the sentence is in Object-Verb word order. The
word, MY, is an attributive adjective.
B. Non-topicalized
1. I MET YOUR MOM YESTERDAY!
I am the topic and the sentence is in Subject-Verb-Object word order.
2. MY CAT DIED!
My cat is the topic and the sentence is in Subject-Verb word order. The word, MY, is an
attributive adjective.
ASL: Initialization / Initialized Signing
Initialization is the process of using the ASL fingerspelled letter that represents the first letter of
an English word as the handshape for a sign.
For example, the signs CLASS and FAMILY are initialized signs.
FAMILY:
Warning: Overuse of initialization is frowned upon by the Deaf Community. While it is true
that quite a few initialized signs have found their way into general usage in the Deaf community-you would do well to use initialization as little as possible if you are trying to develop your ASL
skills.
ASL Linguistics: Tense
A student asked me quite a few questions about how to sign PLAY (as in playing a game, not I
went to the play at the theater house). One of the challenges in responding is that the student
sent me only sentence fragments and not complete sentences. Having a complete sentence makes
it easier to come up with a suitable way to sign the concept.
"I play …"
1. I/ME PLAY…
2. Sometimes the game itself incorporates the concept of "play" so you don't need to add the
sign. For example: "I/ME GOLF." = "I play golf."
"I am playing."
1. I/ME PLAY [head nod] (I'm playing.)
2. I/ME PLAY NOW (I'm currently playing.)
"I have played"
1. I/ME PLAY FINISH = "I'm done playing. I have completed playing."
2. I/ME FINISH PLAY = "I've already played…).
3. I/ME PLAY PAST-(before) = "I've played that in the past." "I've played that before."
4. PAST I/ME PLAY… = "Previously I played…"
"I played…"
Example 1: Prompt: YESTERDAY YOU ENJOY PLAY?
Response: "YES, I PLAY all-DAY!" = "Yes! I played all day!"
Note: Sometimes the "past tense" (-ed) concept is expressed by the conversation partner in a
previous sentence.
Example 2: "NOW-MORNING I PLAY C-H-E-S-S" = "This morning I played chess."
"I was playing…"
I PAST PLAYING…
DURING I PLAY…(I was playing [then something occurred…])
YESTERDAY I GO MY FRIEND HOUSE PLAY GAME. I PLAY, HAPPEN! POLICE
SHOW-up! = I went over to my friends house yesterday to play a game. I was playing when all
of a sudden the police showed up!
"I had played…"
Yesterday I lost the game. I had played my best but opponent was better.
YESTERDAY I LOSE-COMPETITION GAME. I PLAY MY BEST. NOT-MATTER. MY
ENEMY BETTER.
"I have been playing…"
I/ME UP-TO-NOW/SINCE/HAVE-BEEN PLAY.
"I will play…"
1. Context: Your friend is setting up a multi-player board game and looks at you and signs:
YOU PLAY?-[eyebrows_up] You respond: "I PLAY." This could be interpreted as, "Are you
going to play?" "I will play." (or "I'll play.")
2. I/ME PLAY WILL-(future)! (Putting "WILL" at the end indicates commitment – not
tense. This sentence then means: "I will certainly play!")
Predicate
American Sign Language has its own unique syntax. You will notice that it is indeed
different from that of English.. In general, the order of our words in a sentence follows a
"TOPIC" "COMMENT" arrangement. This is could also called "subject" + "predicate"
sentence structure. (A predicate is a word, sign, or phrase that "says something" about
the subject.) For example, in the English sentence, "Sarah is sleepy." Sarah is the
topic or subject. The comment or predicate consists of "is sleepy." Since ASL doesn't
use "be verbs" the sentence would be signed as "SARAH SLEEPY" while nodding your
head.
You will also see this structure: "TIME" + "TOPIC" + "COMMENT."
For example:
"WEEK-PAST ME WASH CAR "
or "WEEK-PAST CAR WASH ME "
I personally prefer the first version. Depending on which expert you listen to, you will
hear that one way is better than the other. Anyone who tells you that ASL can't use a
"subject" + "verb" + "object" sentence structure is simply denying reality. ASL uses
SVO quite often. What it doesn't use is "subject" + "be-verb" + "object." For example,
in ASL you wouldn't sign the "is" in "HE IS MY BROTHER." You'd simply sign "HE MY
BROTHER" while nodding your head. Instead of signing "IS" you nodded your
head. "IS" didn't "disappear" it simply took a "non-manual" form. Which is why we say
that ASL doesn't use "be verbs." The concept of being and existing are still conveyed-but we do it without "be verbs." Instead we nod our heads, and/or use signs like
"HAVE" and "TRUE."
"I am a teacher," could be signed:
"I TEACHER I"
"I TEACHER"
"TEACHER I"
also, "I am from Utah," could be signed:
"I FROM UTAH I"
"I FROM UTAH"
"FROM UTAH I"
All of the above examples are "correct." You could sign any of those sentences and still
be signing ASL. My philosophy is to do the "correct" version that works for the greatest
number of signers. I've lived in Utah, California, Indiana, Washington D.C., Texas, and
Oregon, plus I've visited quite a few other places. It has been my experience during my
various travels that "I STUDENT" and "I FROM UTAH" work just fine and are less
confusing than "STUDENT I" and "FROM UTAH I."
The sentence "WHERE FROM YOU?" is used to ask where you are originally from.
As far as a sentence without "be" verbs, the English sentence "I am a teacher" would
be signed:
"TEACHER ME " or even "ME TEACHER." You drop the "am" and instead nod your
head.
Suffixes
"ing, ed, and other suffixes are not used in ASL. If I want to change "learn" into "learning" I
simply sign it twice to show it is a process. Many times the "ing" is implied. For example,
"YESTERDAY I RUN" would be interpreted as "Yesterday I went for a run," or you could
interpret it as, "Yesterday I went running." How you interpret it would depend on the rest of the
message (context). If you want to sign dying as opposed to "die" or "dead" you would do the
sign slower (more drawn out) and not quite "finish" the sign before moving on to the next sign in
your sentence.
Deaf Culture: Name signs
Name signs are signs that are used as people's names. They are specific signs that
refer to specific people.
If you spend enough time in the Deaf community eventually you will receive a name
sign from your Deaf friends or associates. It is best to get your name sign from a skilled
native signer who is familiar with the Deaf people in your area and knows whether a
particular name sign is already being used.
In general, only people who are culturally Deaf should give name signs to others. The
reason you should get your name sign from a Deaf person skilled in ASL and active in
the Deaf Community is because such individuals have enough experience to know if a
potential name sign is grammatically correct and culturally acceptable Getting your
name sign from a Deaf person who is active in the Deaf community helps insure that the
new name sign doesn't conflict with local name signs or those belonging to prominent or
historically important individuals.
Dr. Bill's comments and notes:
There are many Deaf people (and ASL teachers) who give out combined name signs (first letter
of name combined with some personality trait or characteristic). However, there are some ASL
instructors who feel that "combo name signs" should not be handed out even though such name
signs are "common," "out there," and "used by many in the Deaf Community." The reason some
ASL instructors do not recommend using or designating combo name signs is that such name
signs are not reflective of classic / traditional Deaf Culture.
Combo name signs are very common now but were not common in the classic (golden days) of
Deaf society. There is an emerging and ongoing resurgence of respect for classic/traditional
ASL and as such there has been a trend (in certain circles) away from the use of combo signs and
back to either descriptive or arbitrary name signs (but not a combination of the two).
Students want solid and definitive answers. The challenge is that if you ask many different Deaf
people -- you will get a variety of answers. At this time (2014-most recent edit) many of those
people (real people, your Deaf coworkers, Deaf friends, Deaf associates) will tell you that
combo name signs are fine (and may even have given you one). Then along comes some ASL
instructor, book, or vlog, that says, "No, do it this way. Do it my way. Do it the right way. Do it
the historical way."
Will the trend away from "combo name signs" (and back to the legacy ways) continue to spread
and become dominant? Time will tell. We will see.
In the meantime I recommend you follow the lead of your local ASL instructor(s), local nativeDeaf-adult leaders, and local Deaf friends.
In all cases take a humble, open, respectful approach.
Discussion notes:
1. Name sign choices should be guided by deep seated values based on appreciation of and
respect for the type of signing done by native ASL users.
2. It is recognized in the Deaf Community that novice or low-level signers tend to use excessive
initialization.
3. "Combo name signs" are often laborious, cumbersome, or simply have the visual equivalence
of the fingernails-on-the-chalkboard effect.
4. To be accepted in the Deaf Community it is important to show respect for and
appreciation of the type of signing done by native ASL users.
5. There are physiological reasons for the grammatical rules that apply to name
signs. Human brains are prefer visually effective and efficient signing.
6. The grammar of ASL is based on the type of signing done by native ASL
users. Native signers sign the way they do because such signing is visually effective
and efficient.
ASL Linguistics: Syntax
In American Sign Language, we have a different syntax. In general, the order of our words in a
sentence follows a "TOPIC" "COMMENT" arrangement. This is could also called "subject" +
"predicate" sentence structure.
Plus you will often see this structure: "TIME" + "TOPIC" + "COMMENT."
For example:
"WEEK-PAST ME WASH CAR "
or "WEEK-PAST CAR WASH ME "
I personally prefer the first version. Depending on which expert you listen to, you will hear that
one way is better than the other. Anyone who tells you that ASL can't use a "subject" + "verb" +
"object" sentence structure is simply denying reality. ASL uses SVO quite often. What it
doesn't use is "subject" + "be-verb" + "object." For example, in ASL you wouldn't sign the "is"
in "HE IS MY BROTHER." You'd simply sign "HE MY BROTHER" while nodding your
head. Instead of signing "IS" you nodded your head. "IS" didn't "disappear" it simply took a
"non-manual" form. Which is why we say that ASL doesn't use "be verbs." The concept of
being and existing are still conveyed--but we do it without "be verbs." Instead we nod our
heads, and/or use signs like "HAVE" and "TRUE."
"I am a teacher," could be signed:
"I TEACHER I"
"I TEACHER"
"TEACHER I"
also, "I am from Utah," could be signed:
"I FROM UTAH I"
"I FROM UTAH"
"FROM UTAH I"
All of the above examples are "correct." You could sign any of those sentences and still be
signing ASL. My philosophy is to do the "correct" version that works for the greatest number of
signers. I've lived in Utah, California, Indiana, Washington D.C., Texas, and Oregon, plus I've
visited quite a few other places. It has been my experience during my various travels that "I
STUDENT" and "I FROM CALIFORNIA" work just fine and are less confusing than
"STUDENT I" and "FROM CALIFORNIA I."
As far as a sentence without "be" verbs, the English sentence "I am a teacher" would be signed:
"TEACHER ME " or even "ME TEACHER." You drop the "am" and instead nod your head.
For most simple negation you don't need any separate sign--you just shake your head negatively
while signing.
For example, if I sign "I TEACHER" while shaking my head negatively, it means "I'm not a
teacher."
There is also a general sign that means "not." To sign "not," form your dominant hand into an
"A" hand. Touch the pad of the thumb under your chin. Quickly move the hand forward a few
inches.
NOT:
There is a general sign for "don't."
This sign isn't used for signs like "DON'T-LIKE" and "DON'T-WANT." Such signs use
"reversal of orientation for negation" instead.
I rarely use this sign unless I'm attempting to strongly emphasize a point.
DON'T:
This is the general sign for "no."
You can use either a single or a double motion. (Meaning, you can close the fingers and thumb
either once or twice.)
NO:
"None of your business" = NYB (Or even NYOB).
I've always thought this was interesting...the sign for "It's none of your business." It comes from
the first letters of the words "none of your business." Often the order is changed around a bit to
be NYOB. The reason is likely because it "rolls off the hand" much more smoothly than
NOYB. I haven't seen this sign for quite a while, (I guess I've been hanging out with a more
polite group?), but it is such an interesting sign that I couldn't resist sharing it with you: The
movement is quick and ends with a type of flourish (in which you change into the B using sort of
"be gone peasant" flick of the hand).
NYB