What Are ASL Classifiers?

A new course in Structural American Sign Language (or ASL Grammar) to focus on classifiers will be needed to develop.  In this blog, the students will take a glance of what they need to learn as follows.

 

 

1. Size and Shape Specifiers

This section introduces students to the dynamic interplay between classifiers and the noun and verb signs. Learners will become aware of the core theoretical perspectives of applying classifiers to the noun and verb sign agreements through handshape assimilations.

For example, when you talk about Daddy Bear's bowl in Goldilocks and the Three Bears:

 

 

 

Another example, when you are carrying a heavy box:

 

 



 

 

2. Singularity and Plurality

In this section students will connect the use and construction of classifiers with the singular or plural noun signs and then assimilate them with the various noun and verb sign agreements.

 

For example, when you are talking about a group of men going somewhere:

 

 



3. Concrete and Abstract

 

This secion of this blog introduces students to the concept of space or location as the realm of mentally constructed entity and, to varying extents, modes of categorization. Cultural phenomena can be observed at any level of analysis.

 

For example, when you are talking about the Washington Monument:

 

 

 

 

Another example, when you are talking about a dream:

 

 







 

4. Determiners and Possessors

 

Determiners and possessors are about the objects which students talk about. This blog considers such key questions as: Whose is it? Where is it from? What belongs to whom? Where is it located?

 

 

For example, when you are talking about a river:

 

 

 

 





Another example, when you are talking about the Willamette River:

 

 

 



5. Indicators and Presumptions

Students will compare the pal positions for indicator and presumption classifiers. This blog asks what classifiers are used for objects not seen or known as well as what classifiers are for seen or known objects.

 

For example, you are talking about someone you and I know, you use this indicator:

 

Mr. Brown Can Moo-Moo

 

When we are talking about someone we are not familiar:

 

SOMEONE-TELL-ME

 



6. Affixes and Separations

This section begins with some signs requiring affixes (prefix, infix or suffix expressions) to modify their meanings. Noun signs rarely have affixes, and they generally require separate classifiers that allows affixes. 

For example, if you are talking about working hard:

For example, the term unhappy is separated by two signs: NOT + HAPPY. 





The term thoughtless is separated by THINK and WHAT along with an infix: LOWERED EYEBROWS.

 

 

 

Professor Carl's comment.  I can't promise that you will love grammatical analysis because you studied ASL.  But I think that you'll understand ASL grammar after putting together and taking apart phrases and sentences.  You learn ASL grammar by doing ASL.