Writing ASL
Published on Sep 02, 2016
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Writing ASL
How one puts a visual language on paper
Often people will dismiss American Sign Language and any other sign language because they do not have a writing system to encourage literacy.
Photo by Ravages
Not all languages are written the same way
Writing is an invention that occurred after spoken languages came up. There had to be a way to record information, other than traditional oral storytelling.
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It took more than a thousand of years before a few spoken languages had writing...
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Writing is a form of communication - visual and physical.
Writing is a visual and physical mode of communication. One needs to use the eyes to read and hands to create something that resembles a written language.
ASL (and other sign languages) shares some same qualities as written languages - a visual and physical space. One bonus that ASL has and is difficult to place on paper is spatial information.
ASL (and other sign languages) shares some same qualities as written languages - a visual and physical space. One bonus that ASL has and is difficult to place on paper is spatial information.
Photo by Spongehoe
GLOSS:
How to write in ASL to understand how to sign in ASL.
Most people use GLOSS to help them understand how ASL is signed.
When deaf people use this method to write in English, they are often labeled English insufficient, reading at 4th grade level and their writing is called 'broken English'.
This is because children grew up signing ASL but did not have an academic ASL learning environment that many children who speak their native languages go through. English speakers are born ready to acquire English on a social behavior and when entering school, they begin to be academically ready to learn English. Deaf children acquire ASL (or some forms of signed English) and are expected to be English ready in school. Because written languages depend on the spoken language, ASL's writing is based on the deaf children's ASL ability, not because of stupidity.
When deaf people use this method to write in English, they are often labeled English insufficient, reading at 4th grade level and their writing is called 'broken English'.
This is because children grew up signing ASL but did not have an academic ASL learning environment that many children who speak their native languages go through. English speakers are born ready to acquire English on a social behavior and when entering school, they begin to be academically ready to learn English. Deaf children acquire ASL (or some forms of signed English) and are expected to be English ready in school. Because written languages depend on the spoken language, ASL's writing is based on the deaf children's ASL ability, not because of stupidity.
Photo by eltpics
To Gloss - PRO
- All letters are CAPITALIZED
- ASL does not use articles (the, and, he/she/it, are, etc) so it is not written.
- How the language is signed (grammar)
- Explain how signs are produced (with other signs at the same time or consequential).
- # means that a word is spelled out (can be lexicalized or a noun)
Here is the pro aspect of GLOSS. This benefits most hearing people and translators of songs.
The second line shows that ASL does not use the articles (including -ing, re-, etc) often used in English or other spoken languages (exception are the manual alphabets). This helps reduce linguistic mental frustrations when trying to think in English. This is an good example of when entering the classroom to get rid of the English mindset and start the class in thinking ASL.
The fourth line examples:
EAT+NOON=LUNCH (combination of signs)
WHATS-UP=WHATS UP (one sign not two different signs)
The last line: There are several ways to identify if a word is a lexicalized sign (fingerspelled sign, not the same as fingerspelling itself) or something to fingerspell out, for example, names of people or places.
The second line shows that ASL does not use the articles (including -ing, re-, etc) often used in English or other spoken languages (exception are the manual alphabets). This helps reduce linguistic mental frustrations when trying to think in English. This is an good example of when entering the classroom to get rid of the English mindset and start the class in thinking ASL.
The fourth line examples:
EAT+NOON=LUNCH (combination of signs)
WHATS-UP=WHATS UP (one sign not two different signs)
The last line: There are several ways to identify if a word is a lexicalized sign (fingerspelled sign, not the same as fingerspelling itself) or something to fingerspell out, for example, names of people or places.
To Gloss - Cons
- Does not show the facial grammar that is important in ASL (adverb/adjective morphemes
- Does not demonstrate the 3D capacity that ASL uses (tends to be long-run compared to writing in English)
Since ASL is a visual-manual-spatial language, GLOSS does not help on the spatial description and the grammar features that are visual on the face and the body.
At the same time, if you were to provide all the information in a simple sentence, it will look like a run on sentence that English abhors.
Examples coming...
At the same time, if you were to provide all the information in a simple sentence, it will look like a run on sentence that English abhors.
Examples coming...
ASL:
TREE IX-here CAT-run (CL:bent-V run) run-to-tree TREE CAT-run-up CAT-sit (CL:bent-V sit)
This is an example of how ASL could be written (mind you, the deaf children do not add the CL: information). It does not make sense to English readers but when one signs the sentence it will make sense.
Broken English? Not.
Broken English? Not.
within 40 years...
two ASL writing systems came up...
There are two written systems established in the last forty years.
The last two slides provides some information on the systems.
The last two slides provides some information on the systems.
Signwriting
a computerized version
Prior to this computerized version - Stokoe Notation (1960's) was the first of its kind and one that led to the confirmation that ASL is truly a language.
This version of literacy is computer based and was created back in mid-1970's.
This is not commonly taught in schools in America. Other countries have had success introducing this.
Now if computers fail...
http://www.signwriting.org/
This version of literacy is computer based and was created back in mid-1970's.
This is not commonly taught in schools in America. Other countries have had success introducing this.
Now if computers fail...
http://www.signwriting.org/
si5s/ASLWrite
A handwritten version
si5s (SIGNS in handshape/movment) is also known as ASLwrite. It is an handwriting version of ASL. The history of this version is most recent and was born from research.
http://www.aslwrite.com/
http://www.aslwrite.com/
To start practicing gloss
- Use a vocabulary list to practice GLOSS
- Use simple sentences to practice grammar structure and word order.
- The last part you may want to try...some years later when one has a better understanding of how to SIGN in ASL.
Practicing ideas and suggestions. The last part is far complicated.
