Course Description
This course teaches the concepts of linguistics pertaining to American Sign Language. The fundamental areas of linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax, and use of language) will be introduced, compared and contrasted with phonological, morphological and syntactical and sociolinguistic structures of American Sign Language.
Prerequisite(s)
SIGN 2513 - Must be completed with a grade of C or better prior to taking this course.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Distinguish fundamental ideas about languages as unique communication systems
- Explain the basic concepts of linguistics as they pertain to American Sign Language
- Explain the basic parts of signs
- Compare and contrast the different aspects of ASL morphology, phonology and syntax as a basic level.
- Examine ASL variation and historical change, discourse, bilingualism, and language contact.
Topical Outline
1. Defining Language and Linguistics
2. Phonology: sign parts, The Stokoe system, sequentiality, Movement-Hold Model
3. Morphology: building of new signs, Deriving nouns from verbs, compound signs, FS, numeral incorporation
4. Syntax: basic sentence types, lexical categories, word order, time and aspect
5. Semantics: meaning of individual signs, meaning of sentences
6. Language in use: sign variation, historical change, bilingualism and language contact, language as art
2. Phonology: sign parts, The Stokoe system, sequentiality, Movement-Hold Model
3. Morphology: building of new signs, Deriving nouns from verbs, compound signs, FS, numeral incorporation
4. Syntax: basic sentence types, lexical categories, word order, time and aspect
5. Semantics: meaning of individual signs, meaning of sentences
6. Language in use: sign variation, historical change, bilingualism and language contact, language as art