Dr. Bill Vicars Lifeprint.com

Suppose a person decides to study the phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and other aspects of a language. We could say that what he/she is doing is…

… engaging in a scientific study of language.

What should we call the scientific study of language?

Linguistics

Thus if we scientifically study ASL we have…

ASL linguistics

structure

usage

sign

signing

signing-[skilled]

language-[1]

language-[2] = sentence

rule

control = governed

communication

system-[1]

system-[2]

All languages are communication systems, but not all communication systems are languages.

Languages are types of rule governed communication systems.

How can we tell if a communication system is a language or not How can we tell if a communication system is a language or not? Don’t answer that. I’m going to tell you…

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck. It’s a duck.

If an animal has the features of a duck we know it is a duck If an animal has the features of a duck we know it is a duck. Thus to know if a communication system is a language or not we need to know the features of a language.

features

Features shared by communication systems and languages: Features shared by communication systems and languages: * Composed of Symbols * Organized and used systematically * May be arbitrary or iconic * Shared by members of a community Will discuss each of these more but here they are again:

Features that both communication systems and languages have:. System Features that both communication systems and languages have: * System * Arbitrary or Iconic * Symbols * Shared by community I don’t expect you to know what these things mean yet. I’m just pointing out that communication systems and languages share some features.

Communication systems have arbitrary and/or iconic symbols that are organized and used systematically by members of a community. Languages are types of communication systems. Therefore languages also have arbitrary or iconic symbols that are shared by a community. BUT…

Languages have some EXTRA features that make languages special (unique/different) from other communication systems. In addition to being a system of arbitrary or iconic symbols shared by a community, languages are also able to…

Produce infinite new messages Produce infinite new messages. Show relationships between symbols Add new symbols Talk about anything (unrestricted domains) Break down to smaller parts The same symbol can mean different things Can discuss the past or future Evolves (changes) Everybody gets to use it. (Not just some.)

ALSO… Language users: Can monitor their own usage of their language ALSO… Language users: Can monitor their own usage of their language. Must be learned from other users of the language. Can learn more than one variation. Can use the language to discuss the language.

symbol

Show me a symbol for a small 4 legged furry animal house pet.

Cat (…or dog, or hamster. But not a fish.)

Some signs have two moving hands. Give me an example.

DRAMA

MAYBE

Rule: If both hands move during a sign there is a tendency for both hands to have the same handshape.

What should we call the rule that if both hands move during a sign there is a tendency for both hands to have the same handshape?

*

"Symmetry Condition"

Give me an example of a 2-handed sign that has different handshapes.

WORD

MONEY

In those examples, do both hands move?

What should we call the moving hand?

Dominant hand

What should we call the non-moving hand?

Any of these will work: Non-Dominant hand Passive hand Base hand

In a two-handed sign, if each hand has a different handshape do both hands move?

What should we call the rule that in a two-handed sign, if each hand has a different handshape then only the active hand moves?

no

What should we call the rule that in a two-handed sign, if each hand has a different handshape then only the active hand moves?

*

"Dominance Condition"

What handshapes does the base hand use in a two handed sign has different handshapes?

BUSY

HELP

WORK

SODA (pop)

COMMUNIST

CAN’T

PAPER

When a two handed sign has different handshapes, the passive hand tends to be one of what 7 basic handshapes?

When a two handed sign has different handshapes, the passive hand tends to be one of what 7 basic handshapes?

*

BASOC15

alternating movement

MAYBE

*

non-alternating movement

CAN

PLAY

*

symbol

either

arbitrary

iconic

GIRL [bonnet]

MAN [hat]

*

WRONG

LOUSY

arbitrary

*

Show me some iconic signs. (They look like what they represent.)

Does English have “iconicity”?

cock-a-doodle-do

choo-choo

In spoken languages a word sounding like what it represents is called: Onomatopoeia

The point here is that ASL is a language because it has the features of a language. (Just in a visual way.)

*

Spoken languages have word forms that seem related in meaning.

-ump, rump, dump, hump, mump, lump, bump…

Phonesthesia

Show me some signs that seem “related” via handshape.

Example: What signs use the “EMPTY” dominant handshape?

*

schematized, encoded ex: TREE

*

Just as words are different in spoken languages Just as words are different in spoken languages. They are also different in signed languages.

DIFFERENT

STUDENT [ASL] STUDENT [Thai SL]

*

Don't focus / dwell upon iconicity

For more insight look beyond iconicity:

ex: SIT (legs) “CHAIR” “SIT-for-a-long-time” SIT-abruptly

*

Small animal sitting

CAT-SIT / BIRD-SIT

*

Members of a community share the same communication system.

Language is productive (any topic)

Language has ways of showing the relationship between symbols…

One of the many ways ASL shows relationships between signs is by nonmanual signals: Example: DRIVE ("mm")

Ex: LOOK-at ("mm")

“mm” = regularly / unexceptionally

*

"th" = carelessly

*

Another way language shows relationships between symbols (words) is thru the use of prepositions: "The book is on the table."

Instead of using a separate preposition such as “on” ASL would include the concept through depiction: TABLE, INDEX, BOOK [depict is just a fancy word for “show”] Depiction is the new terminology for “classifier predicate.”

*

Where did the sign for BROTHER come from. How about the sign for HOME Where did the sign for BROTHER come from? How about the sign for HOME? How about JAPAN?

BROTHER is a compound of BOY SAME (later mutated) BROTHER is a compound of BOY SAME (later mutated). HOME is a compound of EAT SLEEP (later mutated). JAPAN is a form of borrowing as a result of language contact.

Language has mechanisms for introducing new symbols such as compounding and language contact.

MICROWAVE

COMPUTER

EAT-SLEEP … HOME

BOY-SAME … BROTHER

Deaf Way Conference 1989:

CLUB

*

Do bees talk about philosophy and art?

Probably not. Scientists tell us that the three main communication domains of animals are: mating danger food

Language can be used for an unrestricted number of domains.

*

Here is a very long word: antidisestablishmentarianism

You can break it down into parts: anti dis establish ment arian ism

Can we break traffic lights into parts? Um … not a good idea.

In languages the symbols (words / signs) can be broken down into smaller parts.

duality of patterning=

words/signs (symbols of language) can be broken into smaller parts

Compare: LOUSY AWKWARD PREACH

vs

3-WEEKS 3-DOLLARS 9-MONTHS

handshape

specific meaning

*

More than one meaning can be conveyed by a symbol or group of symbols

HOME YOU? "Are you going home"

HOME YOU! "Go home!"

*

Language can refer to the past and the future and things that aren't here.

Example:

"Yesterday she told me she will go.”

YESTERDAY PRO-3 TOLD-ME GO WILL PRO-3

What should we call an English word (or set of words) that correspond to an ASL sign in order to represent that sign in written form?

“Gloss” Glossing is when you write one language in another language “Gloss” Glossing is when you write one language in another language. It is more direct than “translating” and thus tends to look messy.

*

Language changes across time.

COMPUTER, COW, TOMATO, HELP

*

Language can be used interchange-ably (humans)

Birdsong is not language. (only the males do)

*

Language users monitor their use.

Ex: "Erasing" in the air. Or "NO I MEAN"

*

Language is learned from other users.

*

Birds, bees, monkeys don't seem to learn “variants.”

Language users can learn other variants of the same language.

*

Language users use the language to discuss the language.

*

ASL is a naturally developed language that has the features that we have recently discussed.

There are various sign systems such as SEE, CASE, or LOVE that were developed to represent English on the hands. These are not natural languages. These systems are sometimes referred to as Manually Coded English (MCE). MCE is an umbrella term. You’ll also see the term “Signed English.”

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc established the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb. (Which was later changed to the American School for the Deaf).