Morphemes
Morpheme Meaning
Unit of language that can't be broken down into smaller parts that have meaning but it can be broken down into smaller units that do not have independent meaning and it holds meaning on its own.
Examples
Mouth Morphemes
MOUTH MOVEMENT / DESCRIPTION / EXAMPLE:
CHA / big (height, length, size) / MOTHER WANT COFFEE LARGE
TH / clumsy, lousy
Puffed Cheeks / very fat, long ago, many / POINT JAPAN SUMO WRESTLER WOW FAT
Clenched teeth / very many, huge, smart, sexual climax, dark, dangerous / BELT (DARK) BROWN
Tongue out & down / not-yet, ugh, accident, lousy, erratic, hungry, exaggerate / TEACHER NOT-YET COME CLASS
STA-STA / struggle, long process
Pursed lips / work hard, read carefully, sorry, hearing person, persevere, secret
Pursed lips with twiggled nose / characteristic, the way it is
Puckered up lips (mmm) / write, drive, read, curious, medium-sized, comfortable / POINT SOFA COMFORTABLE
Puckered up lips with “AWFUL” sign / interesting, wow
FOR-FOR / what for, why, how come / I SIT TTY YOU COME BOTHER FOR FOR?
PAH / finally, big success
POWOO (Pow-oo) / stricken, forget, boom
WATT / don’t want, want / MY WIFE DON’T-WANT EAT FISH
SOO tired, cold, dirty, delicious, good riddance, curious, close call
SOW / very cold, very tired, very hard, very embarrassed
FISH / finish, stop it / MY HOMEWORK FINISH
PUTT / tend, give in
POW / explode, hit hard, trigger a gun, repress, hot temper
SHH / use exceedingly, make out, poke fun, wild time
MUM-MUM / win an unbroken series of games, nab many suspects
FK / skip work, ignore
PS-PS / fancy, chic
Bornert, Michele J. “Mouth Morphemes in ASL.” Deaf Expressions The Twisted Inner Workings of a Deaf Person's Mind., Blogspot, 28 Feb. 2014, deafexpressions.blogspot.com/2014/02/mouth-morphemes-in-asl.html.
Bound Morpheme Meaning
Morpheme that has no meaning on its own but, when attached to another morpheme, has meaning.
Examples
The letter "S" is an example of a bound morpheme when attached to a word like CAT. CAT+S= plural of cat but if the "S" is removed then it has no meaning on its own.
Free Morpheme Meaning
Morpheme that has meaning on its own.
Examples
Words or language units that have meaning on their own and can't be broken down into further meaningful units. CAT, ZEBRA, etc.
Syntax
Syntax is how space is used for grammar, word order. Generally in American Sign language the order of words in a sentence follows a "TOPIC""COMMENT" arrangement. This could also be called "subject" + "predicate" sentence structure. You will often see this structure: "TIME" + "TOPIC" + "COMMENT." For example: "WEEK-PAST ME WASH CAR" or "WEEK-PAST CAR WASH ME."
Vicars, Bill. “American Sign Language Grammar.” American Sign Language (ASL), www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/grammar.htm.
Semantics, Pragmatics and Register
Semantics
Semantics deals with meaning. This can be the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, sentence or text.
Pragmatics
How language is used, in what contexts is it used, turn-taking, how is it organized, etc.
Register
Style employed while using language which varies depending on the setting and relationship the speaker has with their conversation partner. In ASL there are 5: Frozen which is a text that does not change, e.g. Miranda Rights. Formal which might be a student talking to a professor or a public address given by a politician. Consultative which might be when one consults with their physician or a therapist. Informal which might be between coworkers or acquaintances. Intimate which could be between family members, close friends, couples, etc.
Phonemes
Handshape
The shape of the hand when producing a sign.
The smallest units of language comprised of 5 parameters; handshape, movement, location, palm orientation, and non-manual markers.
“Handshape Inventory ASL Handshapes 1-40.” The American Sign Language Handshape Game Cards, DawnSignPress, www.dawnsign.com/public/uploads/products/asl-handshape-game-cards/pdf/free-asl-handshape-booklet.pdf.
Movement
This refers to the movement and direction of the sign(s). Does the sign move left to right? Up or down?
Palm Orientation
This refers to the direction in which your palm faces, e.g. whether the palm faces down or up?
Location
This refers to the location at which the sign is produced, e.g. the sign DON'T-KNOW is located at the temple.
Non-Manual Marker
This includes facial expressions and various body language--like head tilts and cheek to shoulder movements