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Adverbial Morphemes in Tactile ASL - Gallaudet University

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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 />

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