Adverbial Morphemes in Tactile ASL - Gallaudet University
Adverbial Morphemes in Tactile ASL - Gallaudet University
Adverbial Morphemes in Tactile ASL - Gallaudet University
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
PDE – Steven D. Coll<strong>in</strong>s<br />
F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs and Interpretations<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
4.1.1. Manner/Degree<br />
<strong>Adverbial</strong>s of manner or degree answer these questions: How? In what manner? To<br />
what degree? The follow<strong>in</strong>g are several examples of this usage as taken from the transcription of<br />
the subjects’ videotaped conversation:<br />
4.1.1.1. Example One (Manner/Degree)<br />
Gloss from Transcription:<br />
English Translation:<br />
PRO1 LOOK-AT (man) SHOCK (emph)<br />
I looked at him and was very shocked.<br />
Visual <strong>ASL</strong>:<br />
The signer uses a non-tactile production of the sign with a facial expression <strong>in</strong><br />
which the eyebrow is raised with a widen<strong>in</strong>g of the eyes.<br />
<strong>Tactile</strong> <strong>ASL</strong>:<br />
In the production of the sign, the Deaf-Bl<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong>dividual prolongs the f<strong>in</strong>al hold<br />
segment with a tense feel<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the hands. The path for the tactile version is<br />
also longer.<br />
Analysis of Variation:<br />
In the visual <strong>ASL</strong> production of the sign, the use of a non-tactile facial<br />
expression is sufficient to communicate the adverb. The sign for SHOCK<br />
does not need to have a prolonged hold <strong>in</strong> the f<strong>in</strong>al segment. In the <strong>Tactile</strong><br />
<strong>ASL</strong> production of the sign, a Deaf-Bl<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong>dividual is not able to observe the<br />
non-tactile portion of the sign and substitutes the prolonged hold segment with<br />
a tens<strong>in</strong>g of the hands and longer path to convey the same <strong>in</strong>formation.<br />
Comments:<br />
This is an example of the adverb SHOCK with emphasis, which shows the<br />
degree to which the person reacted to the specific situation.<br />
46