The Keys to successful American Sign Language Usage

1. The Keys to successful American Sign Language Usage

2. Classifiers • Descriptive Classifiers (DCL) • Semantic Classifiers (SCL) • Locative Classifiers (LCL) • Plural Classifiers (PCL) • Instrument Classifiers (ICL) • Body Classifiers/Mime (BCL) • Bodypart Classifiers (BPCL) • Element Classifier (ECL)

3. Vital Signs (ASL Story)

4. Classifier Notes • Please take notes from this powerpoint • When we are done you will put these in your notebook and practice them each type of classifier

5. 1. Descriptive Classifiers (DCL) "short" • They describe a person or object • What is being described is italicized and in quotation marks • DCL:B (or bent B) "extremely tall"DCL:B (or bent B) "short"DCL:4 "long hair"DCL:1 "bulletin board"DCL:1 "black board"DCL:4 (claw) “freckles"DCL:4 "striped"DCL:G "thin"DCL:4 (claw) "curly hair"

6. Semantic Classifiers (SCL) • Represent categories of nouns. • For example, people or vehicles. • Handshape is given followed by information about specific movement italicized and in quotation marks • SCL:1 (person) "walking fast"SCL:1 (person) "person walks to...____"SCL:3 (car) "drives to____"SCL:Y (fat person) "waddling"SCL:bent-V “row of chairs”

7. Locative Classifiers (LCL) • Representing an object in a specific place (and sometimes indicating movement) • Handshape is given, followed by spatial or locative information italicized and quotation marks. • Sometimes indicate movement • LCL:C/LCL:B "place cup on napkin"LCL:5 "leaf floating to the ground"LCL:1 (sticks) "one here-one here"LCL:B "shelf" (over to the right)LCL:1 "goal-posts"(2h)LCL:L "adjust a picture"

8. Plural Classifier (PCL) " • Plural classifiers sign indicating either specific number or non-specific number • PCL:2 "two people walking"PCL:4 "long line of people"PCL:4 "people moving in line"PCL: 5 "hordes of _____." Often called "scads of."PCL:V "people seated in a circle"

9. Instrument Classifiers (ICL) • Instrument classifiers sign in which part of the body (usually hands) manipulates an object • ICL "driving"ICL "hammer in a nail"ICL "play checkers"ICL "play chess"ICL "light match"ICL (broom) ICL "sweep"ICL (water) ICL "pour in"ICL (garbage) ICL "dump out"ICL (wash-clothes) ICL "hang up"

10. Body Classifiers/Mime (BCL) • You use your body to "act out" or "role play." • Sometimes this is like "mime." Other times you just show the action (or interaction) that is going on. • Often this involves "role shifting”. • "yawn""acting tough""give hug to child""running hard/pumping arms""wave to crowd""listen for strange noise"

11. Bodypart classifiers (BPCL) • Body part classifier sign represent a specific part of your body is doing an action • (2h)BPCL:F "look at"BPCL:1 "cross legs"BPCL “tap foot"BPCL "use gesture looking up"BPCL:L "red face" shyBPCL:B "mouth frowning"

12. Element Classifiers (ELC) • Signs representing an element of the earth, such as rain, wind/smoke/gas, fire, and light. • These are usually made with either the 5-handshape or the 1-handshape • ECL:5 “waterfall” • ECL:1 “lightning”

13. Vital Signs (Classifiers)