Multiple Meanings

Important to Remember ASL is not English Was designed for the eye, not the ear Makes visual sense

Multiple Meanings One word in English can have many separate signs in ASL, depending on the concept. For example, the word “get” and “got” in the following sentences each uses a different sign.

Please get the book

Please get him (to get someone)

I don’t get it or I’ve got it (to understand, or not understand)

I get tired (To Become)

I got home

Why do some signs have more than one meaning? Better question is to ask why are there so many words in English that mean the same thing? Wondering why signs have more than one meaning most likely results from matching one English word to just one ASL sign. We must not depend on the word!!!!

Concept and Context Concept: Clothing, dress, and to wear all share the same concept Context: When the meaning of a single sign changes depending on how it is used in a sentence, then the sign’s meaning depends on context. For example, the ASL sign for shirt and volunteer are the same, what changes meaning is context. Shirt I wear I do do what? Volunteer

Practice You and your partner will come up with 5-7 words that have multiple meanings. RUN Car is running Obama is running for office I went running Create sentences using your words with multiple meanings

ASL 1 RHS – Multiple Meanings Race What is your race? She was in a race. The boys raced home from school. Mean The girl is mean. What do you mean? Watch Did you see my new watch. Please watch the kids. Track We raced around the track. The police tracked him. Cool The boy was cool. The breeze was cool. Draw/Drew Yesterday I drew a pumpkin. He drew his gun. Engage I got engaged. Please don’t engage in the argument Jump I jumped in line. The girl jumped me. Yesterday I jumped. Fire The man was fired. Don’t touch the fire. Skip The children skip. I will skip class. She skipped me.

ASL 1 5th – Multiple Meanings Block She blocked the punch The kids played with blocks. Ring He gave her a ring. The phone was ringing. Cool The boy was cool. The breeze was cool. Light The box was light. Please turn on the light. Fly I killed the fly. The bird flies. Sign Do you know how to sign? What is your sign? What does the sign say? Lie Lie down please. Don’t lie to me. Play We went to the play. I went outside to play. Hit He hit me. She was a big hit. Cast The cast was wonderful. I have a cast on my arm.

ASL 1 6th – Multiple Meanings Block She blocked the punch The kids played with blocks. Sharp The knife is sharp. The boy is sharp.. Watch Did you see my new watch. Please watch the kids. Light The box was light. Please turn on the light. Fly I killed the fly. The bird flies. Blue My favorite color is blue. I feel so blue, today. Caught I got caught cheating. She caught the ball. Play We went to the play. I went outside to play. Fire The man was fired. Don’t touch the fire. Skip The children skip. I will skip class. She skipped me.