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REVIEW OF UNITS 7-11.

 

UNIT 7: NON MANUAL SIGNALS

 

NMS or NMM

 

Non-manual signals better known as NMS or NMM, consist of facial expressions, head tilting, shoulder raising and mouthing or other body movements. The use of these signals help to create meaning with the signs.  Some of these features are mouth morphemes, emotional markers and prosody. Not all statements require non-manual signals. An example of this is the sentence, "I need to go to the store." There is no need to add meaning to that statement. A simple statement can become a negative statement just by shaking the head. Modifying the speed and direction can also change the meaning. This is known as INFLECTING. Mouth morphemes are often used to help add meaning. Though they are shown on the mouth and not just the hands, they are used to show emphasis. The following is a list of some common non-manual signals, but this list is not all inclusive.

 

1)    Head Nod

2)    Head Shake

3)    Raised Eyebrows

4)    Tilted Head

5)    Body Shifts

6)    Eye Gaze

7)    Eye Shifts

8)    Eyebrow Furrow

 

 

    Now answer question 1.

 

 

UNIT 8:  MOUTH MORPHEMES

 

Mouth Morphemes are coordinated movements on the mouth in conjunction with signs. These are used to give meaning and to add emphasis. Some morphemes require the head and shoulders as well. While mouth morphemes are not words, they are considered affixes. Each morpheme gives the sign additional meaning. For instance, “cs” added to the sign “there” means that something is close to the spot being referenced as “there.” Another example is “po” used in conjunction with “little” as in showing a small amount. The “po” means that the referenced object is really small.

 

 

    Now answer question 2.

 

 

UNIT 9:  USE OF ADJECTIVES

 

Classifiers (CL) are handshapes which represent size, use or shape. They are units of ASL language, which help bring meaning to the message being conveyed. They can also help show how an object moves or at what speed. Just as the subject has to be set up before telling about it, so do classifiers. It is also a good idea for the signer to check in with the other person to make sure they understand what the classifier is.  Otherwise, it is just an arbitrary hand shape. The classifier can also be set up by fingerspelling or signing (if there is a corresponding sign) the object.  Please refer to the worksheets for a list of classifiers and their information.

There are eight different types of classifiers. They are size and shape specifiers (SASS), body parts, locative, plural, body, semantic, instrument and element.

1)    SASS classifiers – These classifiers are known as the descriptive classifiers. They indicate the size, shape or thickness of something. Examples of these are:

A)  CL:LL to show a rectangular shape or the size of. If the “L” hands are bent, it can show a round object or the size of.

B)   CL: G - “G” hand shapes are used to show the thinness of an object, or a layer of something.

C)   CL:C - “C” classifiers are used to show the size of a rounded object. Modified “C” and bent “L” handshapes are the same thing. This shape shows that a round might be smaller than if two regular “C” hands are used.

2)    Body Part Classifiers (BPCL) – These classifiers usually describe the lower body parts, that are out of natural signing space. These classifiers can also show the movement that is occurring with the body part.

A)  CL:V – This classifier has the appearance of an upside down “V”. This is typically used to show legs. The legs can show being crossed, standing, sitting or kneeling. A correlating movement can be used to show what the body part is doing (shaking, swinging, skipping etc…).

3)    Locative – Locative classifiers show the special relationship between two or more things. They do the same things as prepositions, showing the concepts of in, on, under, behind, above. Examples:

CL:5 – Tree

CL:3 – car

4)    Plural – Plural classifiers indicate a multitude of something. Repetition of the classifier is used to show that it is multiple. Examples of this are:

A)  CL:Y++- Awards

B)   CL:1++ - pens or pencils


5)    Body – Use the body to show action or an appearance. An example would be acting like a bird or dinosaur. In this situation, the noun is indicated first and then the action is shown.


6)    Semantic classifiers – A semantic classifier is used to represent a noun or pronoun and indicate the location or movement.

A)  CL:3 – This classifier can be used to show a car or similar object. If a motion is added, it can also show what the object is doing and whether it might be moving at a slow or fast pace.

B)   CL:1 – This can indicate a person or their movements.

C)   CL:V – This can indicate two people together walking.


7)    Instrument – These classifiers show how objects are handled or treated. The classifier adds certain information to show the real meaning. An example of this would be hammering a nail.

8)    Element – Element classifiers are used to show one of the five basic elements. An example:

CL:5- Fire. If the movements are made to be intense then it shows the fire is bigger. If the movements are made smaller, it shows the flames are smaller.

 

 

    Now answer question 3.

 

 

UNIT 10:  CLASSIFIERS PART I

 

Classifier Locatives are used to show the location of the object in relation to where it is at in space. Locatives can be used to show the relationship between two or more things. A noun must be set up first, before it can show where it's at in relation to another object in space. The largest object should be signed first with your non-dominant hand. With the dominant hand, the smaller object can be signed and placed on top of the other classifier.

 

Classifier locatives in ASL work the same way as prepositions (under, in, on, behind, above) do in English. In ASL, these types of concepts are shown by using a classifier to show the relationship to the space being referenced. An example of this is the concept "the cat is on the bed." The bed would be signed first because it is the largest object and this would be established with the non-dominant hand. Cat would then be signed and a classifier would be used to show that it was on the bed. A down facing palm hand could be used as the classifier for the bed. CL:3 could be used to show the cat. Locatives may sometimes have movement as well.

 

Examples of Locative Classifiers are a vase on a table, a kitten under a chair, a bike next to a car. Notice that no other signs are needed except the subject and object. The location is told just by using the special referent.

 

Different Classifier Handshapes:

CL:1 – Can indicate a person walking alone.

CL:2 – Can indicate 2 people or things together.

CL:A – Can be used to indicate a body part such as the head.

CL:3 – Car-Moving Car

CL:L – CL:L is used to show the size and shape of something rectangular.  Bent “L” can show the size and shape of something round.

CL:B – CL:B can be used to show something flat.

CL:C – CL:C can be used to show the size and shape of something round.

CL:F – CL:F can be used to show the size and location of round objects.

CL: I love you - This classifier can be used to show an airplane.

 

Classifiers can also show movement by the way that the classifier moves, or by using the other hand to show the environment moving around the object or person. This helps to indicate whether subject is moving quickly or slowly. An example of this is CL:3 as a car and CL:B as the scenery. Both hands make movement showing that the car is moving.

 

 

    Now answer question 4.

 

 

UNIT 11:  PLURAL CLASSIFIERS PART II

 

Plural classifiers can indicate a specific or nonspecific number. Multiples can also be indicated by repeating the noun. The noun can be marked by inflection of movement (one becomes multiple), sweeping motion, reposition of the noun (here, here and here) and reduplicate (one versus more than one).

 

 

    Now answer question 5.