Module+4+Unit+3+Sign+Language+June+20-27

For Module 4, you will be annotating a total of 10 concepts on the wiki study guide; you can choose your 10 from Units 1, 2 and/or 3 (chapters 7, 8 and 9 in Rowe and Levine).

Module 4 Unit 3: Sign Language (Chapter 8) I think that Sign Language is Chapter 9 in our book and not 8... (Meggie)

**Home signs** are signs invented by deaf people and their relatives to help communicate about everybody items and activities. Homes signs are usually the starting point for deaf people when they are just starting to learn the language. [] By Lauren Peters

DEZ is the handshape of a sign. The hand configuration used when making a sign. [] Lauren Peters


 * Cherology** is the term formerly used for the phonology of sign language. According to the Freedictionary.com Cherelogy is the description and anaylsis of the distintive units used in the sign language of the deaf. Lauren Peters


 * Total communication teaching** is a teaching philosophy in which instruction is given for as many channels and types of communication as possible. [] This is a very informative article on total communication teaching. By Lauren Peters

Iconic sign according to our book, "resembles what it represents." We see these sign everywhere. I have posted a few pick of common iconic signs we see everyday. By:Angeles Dragunaitis
 * Iconic sign**

Per our book an **iconic sign** resembles what it represents (Rowe & Levine). As simple as the term is described, a sign can mean a thousand words. As my husband stated during our discussion about the following "real life" sign, he said "well people driving in the areas of the border have to take precaution, regardless of our personal feelings." But of course I see it differently!!!! What do you see?!!!?? It's a border crossing!!!!!!!

Another interesting rare iconic sign that I have been exposed to while living on a US military post:

By: Michelle A Carrillo

The book says an iconic sign resembles what it represents. Sign writing is an iconic system of writing sign languages that uses shapes of characters that look like the shape of a hand, face, and body. Iconic communication By Masoud Yazdani, Philip G. Barker. The previous book offers detailed analyses of how to combine words with pictures to communicate clearly across cultural barriers. Patrisa Keys 7/6/10
 * Iconic Sign **

Our book states that **Onomatopoeia** “is the name of the phenomenon that occurs when words supposedly imitate natural sounds.” It is stated on the website I found. I didn’t know what the Onomatopoeia but that website makes it easy to understand. It seems that Onomatopoeia is the sound that something would make. Imagine the old ‘Batman’ show! When Batman and Robin would fight with someone, the screan would be filled with words such as ‘Pow!’ The website shows more sounds such as this. 5th grade students at Lummis Elementary, Ms. Peters, their teacher. (2010). //Poetry as we see it//. Retrieved from [] by: Magdalena Krol 6/21
 * “Zip goes the jacket” **

ASL is the abbreviation for American Sign Language, it is one of the most researched of all sign languages. ASL is a complete language, including it's own vocabulary and grammar. It has all the same properties of oral langauges. ASL is almost exclusively used by the Deaf Community and has no link to oral English. I would very much like to learn ASL one day. I know how to fingerspell and some other basic signs, but I would like to learn more and become fluent if possible. I have taught my students each year the manual alphabet and some other basics signs in the hope that exposing them early will help them be more tolerant and understanding of people who are differently abled. There are several online video dictionaries for ASL. You can check out ASL Pro here []. You can try ASL Browser here []. Jameson, L., Stokes, D, Cleveland, C., Bise, H., Doshler, N., Scheppler, E.,. . . Duncan, J. (n. d.) //ASLPro.com.// Retrieved from [] Michigan State University (1997). //ASL Browser.// Retrieved from [] by Kelley Morrissey6/23
 * ASL** (Rowe and Levine, Chapter 9)

Manually coded English (MCE) is an invented sign language which includes signs borrowed from ASL put together with English grammar to represent spoken English in a word-for-word format. Some of the varieties of MCE include Seeing Exact English (SEE1), Signing Exact English (SEE2), and Signed English. To see a song performed in manually coded English click on this link []. emilyjrobin. (2009). //"Already gone" in manually coded English.// Retrieved from [] by Kelley Morrissey 6/23
 * Manually coded English** (Rowe and Levine, Chapter 9)

Contact Sign is similar to oral pidgin languages. It is a combination of languages following basic English grammar but with many elements of the grammar left out. It is a natural mix of to languages and is used to communicate about specific things. One form of Contact Sign is Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE). In CASE signers choose signs based on ASL meaning and follow English word order, it may also be mouthed in English. Contact Sign can also be used to communicate between two different forms of Sign Language, such as ASL and French Sign Language. It is sometimes referred to as Pidgin Sign Language. Also, sometimes new languages can be created through Contact Sign, as was the case with Nicaraguan Sign Language (see term below).To read more about Contact Sign try Wikipedia at [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_Sign.] Contact Sign. (2010). In //Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia//. Retrieved from [] by Kelley Morrissey 6/23
 * Contact Sign** (Rowe and Levine, Chapter 9)

My mom use to be a teacher at the school for deaf children. I remember her watching a casette with all the signs; she paid attention to letters and numbers in sign language. Today, I see some differencess between the Polish ‘sign language’ and English ‘sign language’. English Fingerspelling Bruce Street School for the Deaf. (2008, January 01). //Sign language//. Retrieved from [] Polish Fingerspelling Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.,. (2009, April 26). //Polish manual alphabet//. Retrieved from [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_manual_alpha][|bet] by: Magdalena Krol 6/21
 * Fingerspelling** in our book is: “different hand shapres represent different letters of the alphabet. Words of an oral language can be spelled directly.”

According to Rowe and Levine, deaf people tend to associate with and learn from another. Current research shows that Deaf children of Deaf parents generally fare better psychologically, cognitively, linguistically, socially, educationally, and in familial development when compared to their counterparts who are raised in an oral environment. Many hearing parents and schools for the deaf have become aware of and sensitive to this. A large amount of hearing parents are now learning some form of signing so they can better communicate with their deaf children. Many schools are also embracing, total communication learning (definition below)(pg. 268-270).
 * ASL acquisition**

I found the following website to be very informative as well as it also answered a vast amount of frequently asked questions regarding American Sign Language. [] (Retrieved 7-14-10)

By: Melissa Guzman 7/14/10

Deaf culture, or Deaf Community, is a culture that has shared language, values, beliefs, behaviors, survival techniques, experience, and traditions. Members of the Deaf Community have great pride in thier culture and their deafness. Often Deaf people will choose to date and marry other Deaf people and also often want to have Deaf children. It is very rare that any hearing person, even one who is in the same family as a Deaf person, will be accepted into the Deaf Community. For an insider's view on the Deaf Community visit []. MSM Productions. (2010). //What is Deaf culture?// Retrieved from [] by Kelley Morrissey 6/23
 * Deaf culture**(Rowe and Levine, Chapter 9)

Total communication teaching is a teaching philosophy in which instruction is given for as many channels and types of communication as possible. [] This is a very informative article on total communication teaching. By: Lauren Peters 6/27
 * Total communication teaching**

Cherology is the term formerly used for the phonology of sign language. According to the Freedictionary.com Cherology is
 * Cherology**

DEZ is the handshape of a sign. The hand configuration used when making a sign. [] Lauren Peters
 * DEZ**

SIG or (signation) is “the type of motion used in a sign” (Rowe & Levine, 2006). For the colors //blue, yellow and green// the sign for the first letter of the color is made and the hand is moved side to side. There is a list of movements and their symbols on page 272 of our book. Here is an example of how movement can change the meaning of a word in ASL from www.start-american-sign-language.com.
 * SIG**

Parameter #2: Movement
The movement of a sign is the action that is used to create the sign. The movement can be in a circle, up and down, forward or backward, etc. If you change the movement of a sign, you can change the meaning of a sign. For example, for the sign "chair," you move your dominant hand up and down twice and for the sign "sit," you move your dominant down once. A simple change of movement changes the meaning of that sign. You can see some examples of this noun-verb movement in the vocabulary of this unit for you to use as you learn sign language online. Start American Sign Language. The five sign parameters. Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/learn-sign-language-online-asl1.html. Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2006). A concise introduction to linguistics. Boston: Pearson. By Nicolina 6/27

TAB or (tabula) is “the location where the sign is made” (Rowe & Levine, 2006). Our book compares this to the place of articulation of oral phonemes. Where a sign is made is just as important as the shape of the hand and the movement of the hand. TAB is one of the five parameters of ASL. Changing the location of a sign can change the meaning just like changing the movement can change the meaning. **Parameter #4: Location** The location of a sign is where you place and form the sign in your signing area. If you change the location of a sign, you can change the meaning of a sign. Some examples of locations include: For example, the sign for "mother" is formed by tapping your open-five hand on your chin and the sign for "father" is formed by tapping your open-five hand on your forehead. This simple change in location changes the meaning of the sign.
 * TAB**
 * In front of your body,
 * Your whole face or head,
 * Your upper face (brow or forehead),
 * Your mid face (eyes or nose),
 * Your lower face (mouth or chin),
 * Your side face (temple, ear, or cheek),
 * Your neck,
 * Your trunk (shoulders, chest, or belly),
 * Your upper arm,
 * Your forearm or elbow,
 * The inside of your wrist,
 * The back of your wrist, and
 * Your non-dominant hand. In this case, your non-dominant will most likely use one of the ABCOS15 handshapes explained above.

Start American Sign Language. The five sign parameters. Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/learning-sign-language-online-asl1.html. Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2006). A concise introduction to linguistics. Boston: Pearson. By Nicolina 6/27

According to Rowe and Levine palm orientation is the direction that the palm faces. When I read this definition I automatically thought of Diana Ross when she did her song Stop in the Name of Love. Her palm was out away from her body when she sang Stop in the Name of Love. In this video clip the person is signing come back and his palms are facing his body. 2010. Signing savvy: Your sign language resource. Retrieved from []
 * Palm orientation**

Edy 6/27

Our book refers to //Palm Orientation// as “the direction that the palm faces” (Rowe & Levine, 2006). //Palm Orientation// can also be referred to as //orientation// or (//ORI//). This is one of the basic considerations for making a sign and in my mind it is like the different places we can put our tongue in our mouth to make sounds. Here is a list of the different palm orientations taken from www.start-american-sign-language.com. **Parameter #3: Palm Orientation** The palm orientation of a sign refers to the position of the palms of your hands and the direction they are facing. If you change the palm orientation of a sign, you can change the meaning of the sign. For example, the sign for "my" is made by placing your palm on your chest and the sign "your" is made by pointing your palm toward the other person. A simple change in palm orientation changes the meaning of that sign. It is also important to know how to refer to the palm orientation of a sign: Start American Sign Language. The five sign parameters. Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/learning-sign-language-online-asl1.html. Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2006). A concise introduction to linguistics. Boston: Pearson. By Nicolina 6/27
 * **Forward** - Palm is facing away from your body
 * **Inward** - Palm is facing toward your body
 * **Horizontal** - Palm is parallel to the floor
 * **Palm toward palm** - Palms are facing each other
 * **Palm to palm** - Palms are applied to each other.

According to Rowe and Levine the parameter of a sign is any feature of the sign. This means that parameter is how the sign formed. This reminds me of when I was in elementary school and we were learning Sign Language and the teacher would come by and position our hands correctly. I found a clip of a man saying thank you and if you watch the way he places his fingers and how he moves them. 2010. Signing savvy: Your sign language resource. Retrieved from []
 * parameter**

Edy 6/27

Our book defines parameter as “any feature or type of feature of the sign” (Rowe & Levine, 2006). This was confusing to me until I understood that there are five sign parameters. Her is an explanation of all five from www.start-american-sign-language.com **The Five Sign Parameters** Just like how we see English words as the arrangement of letters, there are five basic sign language elements that make up each sign. If any of these parameters are changed when creating a sign, the meaning of the sign changes. The five parameters are: 1. **Handshape** - This is the shape of your hand that is used to create the sign. 2. **Movement** - This is the action that makes the sign. 3. **Palm orientatio**n - This is the orientation of your palm. 4. **Location** - This is the location of the sign on your body. 5. **Non-manual Markers** - This is the various facial expressions or body movements that are used to create meaning. The fifth element, non-manual markers, has only recently been included with this list. American Sign Language is a very expressive language, and understanding these elements will give you a better understanding of how signs are made and what makes them different. Start American Sign Language. The five sign parameters. Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/learn-sign-language-online-asl1.html. Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2006). A concise introduction to linguistics. Boston: Pearson. By Nicolina 6/27

According to Rowe and Levine the symmetry condition refers to two-handed signs that move, for which the DEZ for both hand must be the same. This means to me that symmery condition is when a sign requires you to use both hands and the shape of the hands when making the sign must be the same. This reminds me of when someone uses the universal choking sign. When the person brings both hands up to their throat and cups them around their neck. I found a link to an example of a person making the sign for affection. In this clip you will see that he uses both his hands and the shape of both his hands are the same when he makes his sign. 2010. Signing savvy: Your sign language resource. Retrieved from []
 * Symmetry condition**

Edy 6/27

Rowe and Levine (2006) define symmetry condition as the “two-handed signs that move, for which the DEZ for both hands must be the same.” This made me think of the baby signing video that we watched. The sign for more has symmetry condition. Here is a link from a sign language dictionary that has a short video for the sign for “more.” []. More. Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi. Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2006). A concise introduction to linguistics. Boston: Pearson. By Nicolina 6/27

The text defines dominant condition as “a grammatical rule describing the fact that if only one hand of a two-handed sign moves, the nonmoving hand can only be in one of six handshapes” (Rowe & Levine, 2006). An example of this is the sign for “draw.” Here is a link from a sign language dictionary for the sign for “draw”: []. Draw. Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi. Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2006). A concise introduction to linguistics. Boston: Pearson. By Nicolina 6/27
 * Dominant condition**

Inflection and ASL
 * Markedness and ASL

Nicaraguan Sign Language** According to []Nicaraguan Sign Language is a [|signed language] spontaneously developed by deaf children in a number of schools in western [|Nicaragua] in the 1970s and 1980s. It is of particular interest to the linguists who study it, because it offers a unique opportunity to study what they believe to be the birth of a new language. I found a study done on a deaf person who learned Nicaraguan Sign Language.[] By: Angeles Dragunaitis

As Angie stated above per our book, in Nicaragua, deaf people were scattered throughout the country. It is stated in Chapter 9, Rowe & Levine that most deaf people never came into contact with other deaf individuals, and therefore a Deaf Community did not develop. I have came across this story, which I posted link below, about a set of twins and how they attended hearing school early on and were never taught sign language. One of the speakers mentions that it is common in Nicaragua for many children to learn sign at an older age, because the parents are unaware of the services.She emphasizes that they have their own language. She also mentions because they are a little older it will be a challenge to learn sign. [] By:Michelle A Carrillo

Phlasco. (2008, March 04). //Signing time with molly//. Retrieved from [] by: Magdalena Krol 6/21
 * Home signs** according to our book are “siginvented by deaf people and their relatives to help communicate about everyday items and activities.” Many times I have seen at my workplace, the parents signing to their ‘little’ children. I talked to one of the parent and her child has a language delay. The mother of the other child just explained that it is easier to understand her child. This youtube video shows it perfectly. []

Social dimensions of sign language

Finger spelling (Rowe & Levine, Chapter 9) is using different hand shapes to represent different letters of the alphabet. Words of an oral language can be spelled directly. For example, there is completely different hand shapes to represent every letter in my name. To form the letter C, the hand shape looks like the letter C, however some letters do not look anything like the letter. The following picture is the finger spelling alphabet and it was retrieved from this website: [] Colleen Chaps 6/24 Home signs (Rowe & Levine, Chapter 9) are signs invented by deaf people and their relatives to help communicate about everyday items and activities. For example, a deaf person may communicate that they are tired by putting their palms together and placing their hands under their ear, while closing their eyes. However, someone else home sign for tired may be completely different. The following picture is the home sign for "home" I retrieved it from this website: [] Colleen Chaps 6/24 Home signs are signs invented by deaf people and their relatives to help communicate about everybody items and activities. Homes signs are usually the starting point for deaf people when they are just starting to learn the language. [] By: Lauren Peters 6/27 As define in our book, home signs are invented by deaf people and their relatives to help communicate about everyday items. A bell or whistle, may be a sign to tell a person to come to where they are sitting. [] The previous link from wikipedia defines a home sign /kitchen sign. Home sign (or kitchen sign) is the gestural communication system developed by a deaf child who lacks input from a language model in the family. This is a common experience for deaf children with hearing parents who are isolated from a sign language community. Patrisa Keys 7/6/10
 * Home Signs **

Iconic sign (Rowe & Levine, Chapter 9) is picture like and it resembles what it represents. Each iconic sign is arbitrary because they belong because they belong to a particular culture and sign language. The book gives an example that the use of the specific sign for tree is arbitrary and other sign communities may use a different sign to indicate tree. The following picture is the iconic sign for food. The picture was from this website :http://www.signstation.org/assets/terp_assets/jpegs/1.jpg. Colleen Chaps 6/24

The explains code switching as the practice of changing from one style of language to another. It’s the switch from AAE to SAE when necessary. Often, I tell young children to respond with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when speaking to an adult and to reply with a ‘huh’ to friends. It just shows respect. [] The previous link explains the history and practice of code switching.
 * Code Switching**