Facial Expressions - Linguistic aspect

Fri Aug 1 05:23:37 UTC 2008

So would the head up/down at the beginning and end of a fingerspelt word
also be considered a 'topical marker'?

Do you know of any recent literature about facial expressions, or even a
grammar book of ASL that would include facial expressions/head movements.

So is 'Living ASL' in the USA Puddle?

Many thanks once again
Maria

> Ah, "Living ASL" was my shorthand for working directly with Lucinda's
> tape.  I'd love to go to some of the Deaf video blogging sites and simply
> grab one at random and write them.
>
> The grammar marker at the end of Versailles France would be a "topical
> marker". The whole phrase is one noun, not just Versailles.  She's really
> talented and very consistent.
>
> In the original video tape she did tend to mouth words so I had to be
> careful just to pick up the grammatical markers, not the English.
>
> Charles
>
>
> MARIA AZZOPARDI <maria.azzopardi at um.edu.mt> wrote: Thank you Charles for
> your feedback. Yes, I've noticed the classifiers and
> will be analysing them a little more in detail soon.
>
> Your transcriptions of DeafHistory contain a lot of phonetic detail, well
> done - even someone like myself who knows no ASL can almost see the Deaf
> signer sign while reading them.
>
> Where can I find "living ASL" please?
>
> Maria
>
>> The DeafHistory 1-4 are from a transcription of an actual video which
>> will
>> be posted later, so as a "standard" text it, I think, is a good example
>> of
>> "living ASL".  I'm trying to include the head-nods where they appear,
>> as,
>> for the most part, they appear as markers on fingerspelled words and on
>> time phrases.
>>
>> I'm also including, if you may have noticed, classifiers when they are
>> carried down between signs.  Note "teaching Deaf children" in
>> DeafHistory4, the left hand from TEACH is carried down into Deaf &
>> children as a topical marker while the primary hand moves.
>>
>> Charles
>>
>> MARIA AZZOPARDI  wrote: Thanks.
>> Yes, this is helpful. It's a starting point to start analyzing and
>> thinking.
>>
>> It's interesting to see how the head-up and then head-down marks the
>> beginning an end of a fingerspelt word, this happens in LSM too. It's
>> even
>> more interesting to note that it doesn't actually mark the beginning and
>> end of a fingerspelt word, because in 'Versailles France', the head
>> comes
>> down on the sign France rather than on the last 's' of Versailes.
>>
>> What exactly would you call this grammatical feature?
>>
>> Additionally, you mentioned this is a first draft. For writing standard
>> ASL, would you include the head-up and then head-down at the beginning
>> and
>> end of fingerspelt words, or would the head-up and down be considered
>> redundant information, and thus unneccessary for a written text.
>>
>> thanks,
>> Maria
>>
>>
>>
>>> Simply as an example, go to the ASL Encyclopedia and see the beginnings
>>> of
>>> the article I have loaded on Deaf History, DeafHistory1, DeafHistory2,
>>> DeafHistory3, DeafHistory4.  I transcribed this from a videotape and it
>>> is
>>> filled with grammatical eye gazes, eyebrows, and head nods.  It's a
>>> first
>>> draft, but it may help you in how I manage with it.
>>>
>>> Charles Butler
>>>
>>>
>>> MARIA AZZOPARDI  wrote: Hello list,
>>>
>>> I have a 'big' question about the function of facial expressions
>>> (mainly
>>> eye-brow and head up/down expressions) in sign languages.
>>>
>>> The linguistics of LSM (Maltese sign language) has still not been
>>> researched thoroughly. There are of course rules in LSM governing
>>> facial
>>> expressions, however since this has not been studied yet, I find myself
>>> trying to do two things at the same time: translate to signwritten LSM,
>>> and at the same time think about what rules may be governing these
>>> facial
>>> expressions. I find myself using different eye-brow expressions for
>>> different questions, at the introduction of new topics, during
>>> role-play
>>> in signing, at certain clauses etc.
>>>
>>> Could someone lead me to some more information about the grammatical
>>> aspect of facial expressions, preferably with signwritten examples. Or
>>> perhaps illustrate a few examples of how and when facial expressions
>>> are
>>> used in your sign languages. LSM is different to ASL and other sign
>>> languages, although it seems to be a little related to BSL. Besides
>>> there
>>> are certain sign language universals, so any information would be much
>>> appreciated.
>>>
>>> Maria
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
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