Adverbial Morphemes in Tactile ASL - Gallaudet University

PDE – Steven D. Collins
Intellectual Context and Literature Review
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Figure 3
TOO–EXPENSIVE
Figure 4
EXPENSIVE
Figure 3 shows the sign glossed as TOO-EXPENSIVE. Figure 3 also shows the NMS
described as “SS” or “teeth clenched with cheeks pulled back” and the eyes are squinted. The
NMS is an intensifier similar to the English word too. Signs accompanied by this non-manual
component may also have a larger movement than the citation form. Figure 4 shows a similar
sign glossed as EXPENSIVE without the intensifier. Without the NMS, the sign means simply
“expensive”.
Figure 5
VERY–RAINY
Figure 6
RAIN
Figure 5 shows the sign glossed as VERY-RAINY. The NMS is described as a
“tightened facial expression”. Signs occurring with this NMS often have sharp forward
movements. The NMS is a modifier similar to an English word ending in “y” such as in the
English word “rainy”. This ASL sign means raining very hard. Figure 6 shows a similar sign
glossed as RAIN without the intensifier. Without the NMS the sign loses the intense meaning.
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