Friday, October 12, 2012

ASL Minimal Pairs


In ASL, minimal pairs are pairs of signs which differ in only one element, such as a handshape, palm orientation, start/end location, non-manual cue or modifier-movement and have distinct meanings.  We had examined the signs GOOD and BAD and understand they differ in only one palm position—GOOD (palm in – palm in) and BAD (palm in – palm down).  The signs GOOD and THANK-YOU are also a minimal pair—GOOD (palm in – palm in) and THANK-YOU (palm in – palm up).

Can you compare and identify different parts in the following ASL minimal pairs?

NAME and CHAIR

SCHOOL and PAPER

THINK and KNOW
 
NICE and WEEK
 
$1 and 1st

OPEN-THE-DOOR and CLOSE-THE-DOOR

 

14 comments:

  1. $1 and 1st?
    I think I see the others....

    Name and Chair
    palm orientation

    School and Paper
    modifier-movement

    Think and Know
    handshape

    Nice and Week
    handshape

    $1 and 1st
    not sure! context?

    OPEN-THE-DOOR and CLOSE-THE-DOOR
    start/end location

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. $1 and 1st? Try the non-manual expression aspect.

      Delete
    2. Still not seeing it... your face looks the same in both cases. What am I missing?

      Delete
    3. Mouthing for $1 and 1st is different, no?

      Delete
    4. I see now. Thanks. I wasn't even looking at your mouth because I thought mouthing was a no-no.

      Delete
  2. Yeah, the difference is in the mouthing... or non-manual expression aspect. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the videos. Remembering the signs are so much easier if I can see them as many times as I need.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I like these video because they give lots of practice.so if I do forget a handsign i can refer back to them for more practice. This makes learning with asl fun.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Name and Chair the hand postion name palm sideways chair palm down.
    Paper and school: Paper open hand side one hand over the other towards yourself, school both hand open clapping motion.
    Think and know: Think index finger to side of temple. know m shape to side of temple.
    $1, 1st:1$ one finger up and turn wrist inwards while you month one dollar. with the sme hand motion month first.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like the clarity I get from watching these videos, so helpful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, first and one dollar are the hardest ones. I have trouble lip reading, but I can tell after really focusing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes I am able to identify the different parts of each set of signs. I'm getting alot better at learning this.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have trouble remembering everything but these videos certainly do help a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  10. These videos do help a lot, I watch them over and over :)

    ReplyDelete