Facial Expressions - Linguistic aspect

[Charles Butler]

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 <maria.azzopardi at um.edu.mt> 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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