The Challenge of Mediating ASL and ENGLish Chapter 9

Become fluent Study the linguistics of ENGLISH Study the linguistics of ASL

Jourdain, this chapter’s for you! :D Linguistic differences – challenges for interpreters See textbook fig. 9-27 pages 225-228 Differences to Know between ASL and ENG: Modality Grammatical Structure Time / Tense Markers Negation / Affirmation Determining Meaning Affect Markers Noun / Verb Modifiers Pronouns Numbers Voice (yes, even for ASL – primarily “active” voice –not referring to audible / oral / aural concept)

Other features of asl & eng Feature differences include: Prosody – Helps receivers/listeners determine & predict meaning Rhythm, pattern, phraseology & pausing Example: Be sure to put the right em-PHA-sis on the correct syll-AB-ble (if the stress or accent is not right, it becomes more difficult to understand)

Other features of asl & eng (cont’d) To achieve the appropriate rhythm / pattern / pace, a combination of elements are employed: ASL – Has no written or auditory form Spatial based on visual perception & conveyance of ideas, info, feelings, abstract concepts, etc. Time-Oriented Rule-governed hand-signals (signs) Accompanying facial/physical markers (non-manual signals) Visual intonation patterns Restricted use of functional elements (articles: a, an, the), etc. Visual incorporation of the auxiliary verb (“to be” is understood) (Hmm…to be or not to be…am, is, are, were) Uses spatial referents to establish meaning / utterance ENGLISH – Has a written & auditory form Linear, auditory intonation Content Elements for substance & meaning Nouns Verbs Functional Elements (for transition & cohesion) Articles (a, an, the) Prepositions / Prepositional phrases (for , for the children) Conjunctions (and, but) Antecedents (it, them, those, all)

Both languages drop form ENGLISH (Take ASL 21-ASL to ENG!) When interpreting from ENG to ASL: Drop ENG form- Don’t use ENG word order Don’t mouth ENG Use mouth morphemes Express the actual meaning of what is being said in a way the audience would understand Use ASL equivalent language / visuals / classifiers / idioms, etc. Use expansion techniques(1-couching, 2-explain by example / scaffolding, 3-contrasting, 4- faceting, 5-reiteration, 6-use of 3-D space, 7-describe-then, do or act it out / take on or become or personify the character) ASL (Learn more in the ASL 22 – ENG to ASL class!) When interpreting from ASL to ENG: Drop ASL form: Don’t GLOSS or use ASL order (rhetorical questions, etc.) Use ENG equivalent idioms Avoid redundant utterances - Use compression techniques (to condense what Deaf people tend to express in expanded or redundant form)

Showing meaning helps you drop (asl or eng) form Ashley, this chapter is for you FIG.9-1 SOME MEANINGS OF “RUN” FROM PAGE 195 (TEXTBOOK) TRIP My son is going to run to the store. HURRY See you later. I have to run! COMPETE / CAMPAIGN She is running for president. TENDENCY Diabetes runs in the family. DRIVE The drunk driver ran him down. UNRAVEL She has a run in her stockings. MOVEMENT OF LIQUID The creek runs down a hill. The child has a runny nose. STREAM BED I’ll meet you at the run (cultural term). CONFINED AREA FOR ANIMALS / SEMI-TRUCKS I like that house / freeway because it has a large/long run. Can you think of others? Nose run, run copies, machine, biz, amuck, etc.

Another way to think of (time) topic-comment Subject-Verb or Object-Action Example (script for video Darci): The girl is walking her bike, which has a flat tire. She then fills it up with air. She then happily rides off. Subject or Object (girl / bike) Verb or Action (walk / visual accuracy) Tire-flat Air-pump girl-(bike) ride-happy Click on each of the pictures here to show the button to play the videos

Drill for skill activity Darci, the script will be written for you Pair up with a partner Listen to / read the sentence which has been assigned to you & your partner GLOSS it to figure out how to sign it in ASL Use (Time) Topic-Comment order A.K.A. Subject-Verb A.K.A. Object-Action Help one another to sign the sentence(s) from ENG to ASL as best as possible Take turns signing each sentence and give one another feedback (improve) Receive feedback from your peers if you do it in front of the class In GoReact, record in ASL all of the sentences from the auditory prompt