Understanding Fingerspelling and Loan Signs Interpreting I (ASL 3310)

American Sign Language Utah Valley State College

After this discussion, you will Better understand: 1) a brief history, the roles and purposes of fingerspelling in ASL; 2) how to spot, avoid, and correct common errors in fingerspelling production; 3) and understand the existence and usage of fingerspelled loan signs.

1) a. Where did fingerspelling Sign language history, unfortunately, is not • c.1750s: The Abbe de L’Epee founds the come from? well-documented. What is known: world’s first school for the Deaf; uses fin- • 300–800 AD: Despite a vow of silence, gerspelling to teach students French Benedictine monks develop a manual • c.1900s: Educators use the “Rochester system to communicate Method;” essentially fingerspelling and • c.1550: Pedro Ponce de León creates a speech only—no accompanying signs gestural system to aid student-teacher interaction; is first conventionalized sign Why is this history important? language system? • Did Deaf people already have access to • c.1600: Juan Pablo Martin Bonet “claims” or even create a manual alphabet on to invent a system intending to associate their own? Historical evidence seems to handshapes with sound; Myth: Bonet show that they did not. invented the manual alphabet, Fact: he • Fingerspelling’s initial intended usage never used it was to teach speech to Deaf people.

1) b. So why do we use • Although it has been debated for many Generally, Deaf people/ASL signers use fin- fingerspelling? What is it? years whether or not fingerspelling actually gerspelling to communicate proper nouns: What is it for? is ASL, Deaf people/ASL signers do use • personal names • streets the manual alphabet on a regular basis. • book/movie titles • brand names • and borrowed English words/phrases • The American Manual Alphabet consists (aka fingerspelled loan signs or words. of 26 handshapes (two of which require See 3: Language Contact and Loan Signs) extra movement, J and Z) and visually represent a letter of the spoken Ameri- *However, Deaf people/ASL signers do not can/English language. use fingerspelling to communicate words they do not know the sign for. This is a typ- ical error beginner signers/interpreters make.

2) How can I learn to fingerspell Once you know the principles and rules that • Closure. better? And how in the world govern fingerspelling, your only obstacle is a. Anticipate fingerspelled words by can am I ever supposed to practice. Remember the three C’s: identifying key shapes that you know: read fingerspelling when it’s • Configuration. Is it hard to read this? so fast? a. Fingerspelling is the combination of Is it hard to read this? “letters;” look for familiar shapes and Having seen these shapes before, you combinations, not individual letters: can fill in the holes: H-o-w-h-a-r-d-i-s-i-t-t-o-r-e-a-d-t-h-i-s? -Use a first/last (Y) method Howhardisittoreadthis? -See familiar couplet & triplet shapes How hard is it to read this? -Use knowledge of the context b. As hearing people do with speech, -Anticipate what is coming next look for combinations of letters in signing: -dipthongs (sh, th, ing, tion, ness); • Context. -prefixes/suffixes (pre, pro, re, ad) Pay attention to the context and situation c. Look for wordshape: speech that sounds where the fingerspelled word is used: more dynamic is easily recognizable; fin- -timeframe gerspelling that looks more dynamic is -content matter easily recognizable. -gender/familial relationship 2) How can I learn to fingerspell • Variations. • Assimilation and transition. better? And how in the world Remember fingerspelling (and ASL in a. Fingerspelled letters affect other can am I ever supposed to general) has variations. Note common spelled letters next to it. To learn quicker, read fingerspelling when it’s errors and look for and recognize varia- more natural-looking fingerspelling, rec- so fast? (continued) tions (dialects): ognize transitions between letters. -Examples: -D/F: -E: -G: -I/Y: • Other tips/techniques. -J: -K/P: -Fingerspell words after the sign -M: -N: -Use states’ ASL abbreviations, not PO -Initials are slightly circled, held longer -TH: -Z -Misspell? make the error, don’t “erase”

3) Why do I often see Deaf people You need to understand that languages Reasons for and examples of loan signs fingerspelling English words? which “contact,” or are in proximity to anoth- (lexicalized fingerspelling): Why do they seem to skip let- er, borrow from one other: • Maintain sign clarity and meaning. ters and spell them so fast? • Language borrowing occurs when two or a. Signs may require two-hand production

(aka Language Contact, Loan Signs, and Lexicalized Fingerspelling) more languages are “in contact” with and are unclear when signed with one each other;”contact” may be geographical hand. Loan signs maintain clarity and or through media and/or literature meaning while reducing effort. • Language borrowing is frequently direc- -Examples: #KILL, #CAR, #FIX, #BREAD tional: lower social status/minority lan- guages borrow from higher social • Determine who is knowledgeable of status/majority languages ASL, Deaf people, and/or a given culture. Many signs have a perfectly valid one- Language contact between ASL and Eng- or two-hand production, but are finger- lish becomes complicated because: spelled to hide information or determine • ASL and English exist in two different who is a proficient ASL user. Traditionally, media: visual and auditory Deaf people are over-protective of ASL; • Deaf people/ASL signers dwell among it is the very root of what makes a Deaf a majority rather than in a specific geo- person Deaf. graphic area -Examples: #WHAT, #WHEN (figures 2, 3), Figure 1: #DO-DO Depending on facial expression and movement, #HURT, #SURE, #OUT, #DOG, #TOAST #DO can take on several meanings So, ASL borrows from English through fin- gerspelling. Researchers have decided • To satisfy ASL grammatical requirements. there are two kinds of fingerspelling: a. Loan signs take on a movement to • Full fingerspelling: each letter is clearly give the sign a different meaning. and more slowly made, signer uses sup- -Examples: #BACK, #ALL, SAY-#NO-TO, porting arm, produced slightly direction- #DO-DO (figure 1), #GO ally (RH: L—>R, LH: R—>L) • Lexicalized fingerspelling: borrowed • Emphasis and equality. from majority language, uses directional a. The schooling experience of many Figure 2: The signs WHAT and WHEN inflection. Deaf people is of language oppression, a reminder that ASL is somehow inferior Fingerspelled loan signs (or lexicalized to English. Deaf people have, instead of fingerspelling), therefore, lose traditional defaulting to an initialized sign, created fingerspelling properties and, instead, fingerspelled versions of their English function as an ASL sign: counterparts. 1) condense clear, individual lettershapes -Examples: #WILL, #FULL, #DEAF, into easy-to-make ASL handshapes and/or #WILD, #TAN keep the first and last letters while omitting

Figure 3: The loan signs #WHAT and #WHEN the middle letters; 2) add directional • Other loan signs. movement; and 3) include vital cultural -Examples: #JOB (figure 4), #BANK, information. #EASY, #EARLY, #SOON, #BUSY, #COOL, #OK, #SO, #HA, #NG, #OR, Fingerspelled loan signs are indicated by a #EX, #CLUB pound sign (#) when writing ASL.

Figure 4: The loan sign #JOB

References and Bibliography Baker-Shenk, Charlotte, and Dennis, Cokely. 1980. American Sign Language: a Teacher’s Resource Text on Grammar and Culture. Silver Spring, MD.: T.J. Publishers. Battison, Robin. 1978. Lexical Borrowing in American Sign Language. Silver Spring, MD: Linstok Press Eldredge, Brian K. 1996. “Fingerspelled Doublets in the Deaf-World” (unpublished scholastic work) Groode, Joyce Linden. 1992. “Fingerspelling: Expressive & Receptive Fluency, A Video Guide.” San Diego, CA.:DawnSign Press