ASL Grammar and Listing Techniques

Listing (Ranking) in ASL

• Listing in ASL uses a variety of methods to convey order and sequence.
• The most common method involves a directional movement of the hand(s) that emphasizes a progressive, linear sequence.
• Handshapes used for listing can vary. Specific handshapes may have established, conventional use, however, the form is somewhat arbitrary and can vary.

ASL Grammar Rules - General Structure

• ASL is a visual-gestural language, unlike spoken languages which are primarily auditory.

• ASL grammar is different from English grammar. Direct translations are often inaccurate.

• ASL relies heavily on facial expressions, body language, and location in space to create meaning, similar to other sign languages.

• Sign placement in space is fundamental to ASL grammar. This includes the use of the space immediately in front of the signer and across the space in front of them.

• The signer's orientation and location within this space convey information like topic, subject, and verb relations.

ASL Grammar Rules - Specific Listing Structures

• Listing often involves a shift in hand placement in space, from one area in the space to another when moving from one item to the next on the list.
• The level or height at which a sign is positioned can also indicate rank order. Higher positions generally indicate an idea of 'more important' than a lower level.
• Using accompanying movement can distinguish items on a list.
• Similar signs that have slight variations in their handshape or movement, will be treated as separate items on the list.
• Often, classifiers are used in conjunction with a descriptive verb to form a list of attributes.

ASL Grammar Rules - Combining Listing with Other Grammar Concepts

• Listing can be combined with other grammatical concepts, such as classifiers and spatial relationships, in ASL. These are used to further clarify the listed items, and how they relate to each other.
• Conjunctions and other connecting words may not be required to establish the connection between listed items. Instead, the spatial relationships, and how listing takes place, convey the required information.
• A speaker may rely heavily on expressions, inflection (changes or variations in facial expression, and body language to convey meanings.
• The same sequence of signs can convey different meanings, and thus, must be interpreted by considering the overall context.

Structure of ASL from a different perspective (i.e. how would this information be different if studied by a hearing person)

• Classifiers are used extensively in ASL and function to express not only nouns, but also relationships between nouns and verbs; a concept that hearing or spoken language speakers are not used to understanding.
• ASL differs significantly from English and other spoken languages, as it utilizes the spatial relationship of signs. This includes location in space, direction, and relative position as key components for conveying the meaning of sentences, rather than relying on grammatical punctuation or word order.
• Signers will utilize specific handshapes, expressions, and accompanying movement, rather than modifying pre-selected word-forms.

Key Differences Between ASL and Spoken Languages

• The use of space, facial expressions, and body language are all integral components of ASL communication, whereas spoken languages hinge primarily on auditory cues.
• ASL has its own unique grammar and structural principles which differ drastically from the grammar of spoken languages
• Specific rules for ordering and linking signs, utilizing the space in front of the signer to denote a progression, and order-of-importance for various items, is unique to ASL.
• Direct translation commonly fails to capture the nuances of meaning in ASL. The process of representing concepts and relationships using visual metaphors, is central to sign language and may be opaque when comparing them with a spoken language translation.