Writing (and why it’s important for signed languages) What is writing?
To communicate relatively specific ideas by means of permanent, visible marks. Why write?
To preserve ideas over time To send ideas over distance New forms of expression (think of the poems of e.e. cummings) To preserve the language itself To objectify the language writing semasiographic ‘lingui-grglottographicaphic’
logographic phonographic
word morphemic syllabic segmental featural Some examples
Logographic Chinese What if we want to invent a logographic system for English? Some examples
Phonographic Syllabic Linear B: used -16c to -13c to write and early form of Greek (’Mycenaean’ civilization) Some examples
Phonographic Syllabic (syllabary) Cree Cherokee Sequoyah’s Syllabary (1821) Some examples
Phonographic Segmental English (Roman alphabet) The Principle of Writing
What will be written? Logographic: word or morpheme? Phonographic: syllable, segment, feature? The Principle of Writing
Where will we get the visible marks? From other, existing systems Invent them ourselves Signed Language Writing
How then would we write a signed language like ASL? By following the principles of writing The Principles of Writing
What will we write? Where will we get the visible marks? writing
‘lingui-graphic’
logographic phonographic
word morphemic syllabic segmental featural Writing ASL
Stokoe Notation Writing ASL
Stokoe Notation What are the design features of this writing system? What is written? Where did he get the forms? Writing ASL
Therefore, Stokoe Notation is ______? Phonographic Segmental (phonemic) Writing ASL
SignFont Writing ASL
Sutton Sign Writing Why write ASL?
To preserve ideas over time To send ideas over distance New forms of expression To preserve the language To objectify the language Virgin Island Creole
The ... opportunity for the use of creole by the development of a writing system breaks the barrier that has shut out from information transfer, from “language-hood ‘ and from confidence, large numbers of people over several hundred years in this country; has shut them out from full communication within their society. ... There is a severe need, a very deep need, for communication tools that allow people to share in the development of their society beyond simply being laborers within the situation directed from places of which they have no comprehension. (Carrington, 1981) Deaf World: “In Search of the Perfect Sign-Language Script: Insights into the Diverse Writing Styles of Deaf Playwrights” (Willy Conley) The Politics of Writing
Do all communities welcome the introduction of writing systems for their native language? Why? What factors (social, educational, religious, economic) might shape people’s opinions? The Politics of Writing
What does the deaf community think, in general, of the notion of writing ASL? What factors might have shaped these opinions? Are these opinions uniform in the community? Have they changed over the course of history? Next lesson...
What is “Signed English” and how does it relate to the principles of writing? Writing Reviewed
What is writing? A representation of language We choose WHAT to represent Meaningful units: logographic (also sometimes called ideographic) writing Writing Reviewed
What is writing? A representation of language We choose WHAT to represent Meaningless units: “phonographic” writing writing
logographic phonographic
word morphemic syllabic segmental featural phonemic Writing Reviewed
What is writing? A representation of language We choose WHERE to get the visible marks Borrowing from existing inventories Invention of new graphic marks Writing Reviewed
What is writing? A representation of language Speech visible graphic marks Sign visible graphic marks What is the general principle? The General Principle
Start with a natural language in its primary modality Invent a way to represent it in a secondary modality What is a ‘secondary modality’? Secondary Modality
spoken written Written English, written Chinese, etc. transient permanent Written English, Chinese, ASL not visible visible Written English, Chinese, but not ASL Secondary Modality
Let’s think some more about this secondary modality business If we start with speech, writing is a secondary modality What else could be a secondary modality for speech? What is signed English?
A representation of English in a secondary modality spoken signed Inventing signed English
Why would we want to do this? Why represent a spoken language in the signed modality? Inventing signed English
If we wanted to invent a signed system for English what would we do? Hint: if we wanted to invent a written system for English what would we do? Double hint: Ask two questions Inventing signed English
WHAT should we represent? WHERE should we get the visible marks? So let’s do it! What do we want to represent?
Where will we get the marks?
Wilcox Essential English (WEE)! What type of system is this? Does it represent meaningful or meaningless elements? What type of meaningless element? Phonemic or ‘alphabetic’! Where did the visible ‘mark’s come from? Signed English
“Signed English uses two kinds of gestures or signs: sign words and sign markers.” Sign words Sign markers What type of system is this? Does it represent meaningful or meaningless elements? Logographic “Each sign word in this book stands for a separate entry in a standard English dictionary.” “The sign marker is used to represent certain very basic and common English word form changes, usually inflections.” Lexical Semantics class: Examples please! Where do the visible ‘marks’ come from? Most of the signs in Signed English are taken from American Sign Language.
But these signs are now used in the same order as English words and with the same meaning. We use ASL signs where possible because it should make it somewhat easier for the child to communicate with people who use that language.
(American Sign Language is different from English, so do not be surprised if you have difficulty communicating with those deaf adults who depend exclusively on ASL.) So what is Signed English?
A representation of English in another modality Analogous to written English Is it a ‘system’? Is it ‘language’? So what is Signed English?
What, if anything, is wrong with Signed English? Language politics
Remember that language communities differ in their views and ideologies regarding the politics of writing They also differ in their views regarding the politics of using more than one language Language politics
Linguistic diversity Respect for languages Respect for dialects Respect for users: their right to use the language of their choice