Weekly Journal #6 - discuss previous week lectures and thoughts PDF

Preview

Summary

discuss previous week lectures and thoughts...

Description

1. Why was it necessary to develop a descriptive continuum of the various signing systems? What are the kinds of signing systems used in the United States? ● It’s necessary to develop a descriptive continuum because it helps to better understand the variations. It was created regarding the confusion of the influence and role of English in ASL. The continuum helps examine the potential influence of English on ASL. Signing systems used in the US are Pidgin ASL, contact signing, English ASL, Modern ASL, Rarefied ASL, and Signed English.

2. Name some of the linguistic features of American Sign Language. Why do you think it was important for the author, Tom Holcomb, to emphasize the numerous linguistic features of ASL? ●

●

ASL has phonology, morphology, syntax, and discourse. For Phonology, signs can be divided into their smallest units into four categories of parameters: handshapes, locations, movements and palm orientation. Morphemes exist in ASL by numbers being incorporated with noun signs such as 10 YEARS OLD or 4 WEEKS. Another example is noun verb pairs. One movement is the action but repeated movement is the noun (ex: FLY/AIRPLANE). ASL has the syntax of OSV (Object-subject-verb) or “topic-comment”. ASL level of discourse is the flow of the conversation such as the beginning and the end of the conversation or climax of the story. The process used is diamond structure. I think it was important for Holcomb to mention the linguistics of ASL. I’ve noticed may people think ASL is just like English so it’s “easy to learn”, when in reality ASL has its own grammatical system....