Adverbial Morphemes in Tactile ASL - Gallaudet University

PDE – Steven D. Collins
Findings and Interpretations
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4.1.1.6. Example Six (Manner/Degree)
Gloss from Transcription:
PHONE YES++ ONLY PLUG-INTO(phone) CONNECT PHONE CL:Ob
“cord runs from phone over to tty) PLUG-INTO(tty) TTY FINISH(that’s all)
?
English Translation:
There is a phone plugged into the TTY. There is a cord running between the
TTY and the phone. Is that all?
Visual ASL:
The signer uses a non-tactile production of the sign with a facial expression of
the mouthing of “SS” and a widening of the eyes and a raising of the eyebrows
without actually signing FINISH.
Tactile ASL:
The Deaf-Blind individual signs FINISH with a hand movement with a
tensing of the hand and a final hold segment. As a question the movement of
FINISH is signed with a movement forward in the direction of the other
person to show it is a question.
Analysis of Variation:
In the visual ASL production of the sign, the use of a non-tactile facial
expression is sufficient to communicate the adverb. The sign for FINISH does
not need to be prolonged in a hold of the segment. In the Tactile ASL
production of the sign, a Deaf-Blind individual is not able to observe the nontactile
portion of the sign and substitutes a tensing of the hand during the sign
along with a final hold segment. In addition, the movement of FINISH
includes the push forward to show it is a question. This push in the Tactile
ASL sign is equivalent to the raised eyebrow in the visual ASL sign.
Comments:
This example demonstrates that “finish” is posed as a question and involves a
push movement forward for the Tactile ASL as opposed to the raising of the
eyebrow or the necessity of adding a question sign at the end of the sentence.
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