What most people do not realize about sign language how similar it is to spoken languages. Well it is because they are at the most fundamental - languages. The brain does not discriminate but does follow linguistic rules, regardless of how language is expressed.

Here we will talk about what pieces make up a sign and how critical one different aspect within one parameter can create a different meaning.

Each parameter standing alone has no meaning; when combined with other parameters, meaning takes place. This linguistic level of is called phonology.

The obvious visible parameter of sign languages are handshapes. The number of handshapes go beyond the alphabet and number handshapes.

Since we are discussing American Sign Language; the manual alphabet has 26 handshapes and the number handshapes are only 11. The manual and number handshapes do have some sharing qualities such as 0/0, 2/V, 6/W, and 9/F. When both systems are combined, there are 33 handshapes; however, there are more than 50 handshapes in use. Some sign languages will have more or less numbers of handshapes.

The HS: 1 and HS:D are different because 1 is a closed fist while D open despite the use of index finger.

Then we move on to other handshapes that have no definition; however, they are critical to how signs are produced.

The movement parameter is how you move your signs that produce meaning. If you just swing your arms with no other additional parameters, there are so many possibilities that a meaning has to be guessed by asking a series of questions.

Some signs use the same handshape but will move in different ways such as NICE, CLEAN, and TOO-CLEAN or MY and PLEASE.

When handshapes are shared among signs, movement among other parameters are necessary to discriminate meaning and/or concept.

The previous understanding of the location parameter was basically where the sign would be placed on the body. Research has shown that the concept of the location parameter has two different connotations; dividing location, one becomes 'contact' while location remains the same.

The location parameter's concept is where in space is the sign located. It can be higher up, centralized, on the right or the left creating different meanings. One variation of BOY and MAN are two examples. BOY's contact parameter remains on the forehead, while the MAN's production moves from contact to location, from the forehead to in front of the forehead.

YOUR, MY, and THEIR use the same handshape, just their locations are different.

The location parameter is one representation of the 3D/4D use of space in sign language.

The palm-orientation parameter is where and how your palms are facing while signing.

Some examples are the numbers 1-5/11-15, where the palm faces you. BABY and TABLE do not share the same PO parameter. BABY's PO faces upward, while TABLE's PO faces downward. DEATH has one palm downward and the other palm upward, which is not the same as BET, where both palms are upward, moving downward.

One thing one must not try - to break their wrist twisting the other way, either move the elbow or your non-dominant hand to show the proper PO and location.

The non-manual markers* (NMM) is the accurate description of this parameter because in ASL, this parameter has grammatical application and less related to emotional facial expressions.

This is a feature of ASL that is not written easily (through sI5s, it can be shown). The NMM must be used in the sentences produced along with other parameters. One must have the brows-furrowed WHq (WH family question/statement) when signing YOUR NAME WHAT?

In English, the tone of 'What' is the same as the brow-furrow of WHAT. The only difference is the sound and the sight of the emphasis of "what" in the sentence.

In addition to NMMs, we have mouth morphemes and adverbial grammar, which are not mouthing English words. They are the shaping-movement of the mouth to reflect size, specific signs, and specific expressions tied to grammar.

Examples: CHA, MM, OO, LOOK (tongue repeat movement), CS, HUGE and so on.


*Also known as non-manual signals

The contact parameter is an offshoot of the location parameter when researchers realized that there are different meanings when placed on the body rather than just the space around the body.

Research is always good in many ways - much so for ASL. Back to point, the contact parameter is one of the critical aspects in defining meaning when used with combination of other parameters.

One well known example is the gender distinction that ASL uses to identify family members (not applicable to name signs) such as MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, BROTHER and so on. The masculine feature of the gender distinction is on the forehead, while the feminine feature is on the chin or jaw.

Another example would be CANNING or COMPLAIN. The former is on the non-dominant hand, while the latter is on the chest, while using the same handshape of Clawed-C.

Some signs are one handed (ICE CREAM), some are two handed (WINTER) and with two handed signs; there are two ways a sign is shown. Symmetrical is where both hands share the same entirety of the parameters, for instance WINTER (two handed, fisted and moves circular in opposite ways). Asymmetrical is where signs can differ in all or some parameters. For instance: EXAMPLE, one hand is flat B and the other hand is handshape 1. The HS:1 is placed on the center of the flat B's palm and moves outward at the same time.

Sometimes some signs are clearly two handed and evolution of language allows for some sign assimilation that changes the sign into one hand rather than two hands. Animal signs that are usually two handed can be one handed.

Since ASL was announced a bona fide language in the 1950's by Dr. William Stokoe, an English professor at Gallaudet University, more changes have taken place.

Through the research on sign languages, it has challenged the notion that the brain discriminates speech as an important and necessary to be successful in the world. Visual Language and Learning lab at Gallaudet University has broken that concept - the brain does not care if the person speaks or signs; as long as they have the linguistic rules to apply, the person is good to go. From this, language happens when shared among other people and cannot grow in isolation.

Also the fact that sign languages employ the visual space - around their bodies - has linguistics thinking about how space is defined in spoken languages.

More research coming...how exciting!