Adverbial Morphemes in Tactile ASL - Gallaudet University

PDE – Steven D. Collins
Findings and Interpretations
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4.1.6. Place/Position/Direction
Adverbials of Position/Location/Direction answer these questions: Where? Which
location? In which direction? Following are several examples of this usage as taken from the
transcription of the subjects’ videotaped conversation:
4.1.6.1. Example One (Place/Position/Direction)
Gloss from Transcription:
WHERE PHONE CL: Y “put down phone handset” WHERE WELL? ///
[waits for response] PHONE SUPPOSE YOU SUPPOSE PRO1+++ CALL
YOU (stressed) // PRO1 CALL-BY-TTY (I call you) HOW YOU YOU HOW
KNOW YOU WELL?
English Translation:
Where do you put the handset? If I call you…I call you with the tty…How do
you know that I’m calling?
Visual ASL:
The signer uses a non-tactile production of the sign with a facial expression of
raising the eyebrows for a question or direction. WHERE is not explicitly
signed.
Tactile ASL:
In Tactile ASL, WHERE is signed, with emphasis, at the end of the sentence.
It is a tense and fast movement.
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. There is no need for the
signer to sign WHERE. In the Tactile ASL, it is necessary to sign WHERE
with the emphasis and tense movement it conveys to show that it is an adverb
of place.
65