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CLASSA-WHAT?
Perhaps, by now, some well-meaning person has said something like, "ASL,
unlike other languages, has things called classifiers that are hard to
understand and harder to know how or when to use." S/He may have
gone on to explain that, "Hearing people don't know about classifiers
because there aren't any in spoken languages."
Well, forget all of that, because none of it is true
... except that ASL does use them. Looking for proof that linguistic
classifiers are used all over the world? Here ya go:
It's a crying shame that many ASL
students have been introduced to classifiers in such an unfortunate and
erroneous way. After such discouragement, it is a wonder that any of us
pushes through. Thankfully, some of us do.
CLASSIFIERS
DEMYSTIFIED
Many spoken and signed languages use classifiers. As a
user of English, you use them everyday, but may not have known they're called
classifiers. Think of classifiers as category-words (or category-signs).
An example of a category-word (a classifier) is the word vehicle.
When you think of vehicle, you might think of front loaders, cars, or
moving vans. Then, if it's cars we're talking about, it might be a sedan,
a Mazeratti, or a hybrid. And, so on. Which ever car it is
specifically, it is still a car, which is a vehicle. The words vehicle
and car are classifiers in English.
Tah-dah!
Now you know what a linguistic classifier is, that you and everyone you know
have used them for years, and that not one of you has died from it. Yet.
<wink>
Classifiers
in ASL, just like classifiers in English, are handy, simple, wonderful,
and fun linguistic tools. You're going to get this concept in a snap.
After some practice - OK, lots of practice - you'll be almost as
comfortable using classifiers in ASL as you are using them in English.
Emphasis is on the world almost because, after all, you're a
second-language learner so we don't want to go overboard here. (smile) SUPPORT
MATERIAL
There's
a tough-to-find video that's really helpful. It's called Pursuit of ASL: Interesting Facts Using Classifiers .
You might find a few in VHS but you'll be lucky to find the DVD version because
it's so popular. Get a copy, if you can.
FUNDAMENTALS
DEFINITION
A word or
handshape ...
For example, a 3
handshape ... used to
represent the concept of a noun ...
the
3 handshape representing a vehicle ... that has already been
identified specifically.
you established already
that you are talking about "Aunt Jo's motorcycle."
FORM
...
in English
Spoken or written
classifier words representing a category of people, places, or things
(i.e. animal, airplane, house, statue, vehicle).
...
in American Sign Language
Classifier handshapes
representing a category of people, places, or things (i.e. animal, airplane,
house, statue, vehicle).
Glossed as CL:
followed by a standard or modified handshape (coded in English notation), for
example, CL:1, CL:V, CL:B, etc.
There are
approximately 28 classifier handshapes (depending upon who you ask).
Interpreters
are not allowed to simply create new classifier handshapes (even though some
try). Classifier handshapes are fixed and defined within the ASL lexicon.
Sorry, no fudging allowed.
STRIP
THE LANGUAGE
One of the linguistic
shortfalls of coding
one language by using the written characters of another is the potential for
distortion or loss of original meaning. The coding of ASL classifiers
using written English clearly illustrates this problem.
The above classifier
handshape examples are coded ASL (glossed using English).
CHANGE
HOW YOU THINK
This means that, while the coded ASL classifier CL:B may
"look like" it's an English letter B, it is not a B; it is a classifier
handshape.
STRIP
THE LANGUAGE
This is a conceptual difference that is important
for interpreters to understand and internalize.
THINK
IN CONCEPTS, NOT WORDS
Forget "B" and
think "handshape."
YOU
CAN DO THIS!
(Yes. You can.)
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FUNCTION
A classifier:
is efficient (rather
than describing a thing in tedious and lengthy detail again and again, an
appropriate classifier is used);
streamlines
expression and understanding by eliminating the need to reprocess repetitive
detail;
is useful in visual
languages to quantify or group things, or show characteristics,
motion (behavior) and relative placement of one noun to another;
may be used only after
the noun it represents has been clearly identified; this is especially
necessary when conversing with someone you don't know well;
is useful in visual
languages because a it shows; it does not merely tell. An
ASL classifier conveys a lot of information quickly and clearly.
EXAMPLES
1.
cup
The word cup might mean any number of specific things, but after it is
understood what cup we're referring to, we can chat on and on about it by
simply using the classifier cup, rather than describing it in
cumbersome detail each time we refer to it.
2.
food
Again, we use the classifier food to refer to specific food
after we have established which food we're speaking of.
3.
people
After we understand which people we're talking about, we'll simply
say the classifier people during our conversation.
4.
soldiers
If we already know that we're speaking of, for example, U.S. military men
and women abroad, we can both use the classifier soldiers and will
understand one another clearly; however, if one of us begins to speak of soldiers
in Florida, we need to identify that particular noun before we can continue to
say soldiers and still hope to understand one another.
.
1.
CL:1 1
After we have already established that we're speaking about a friend's former
boss, Emily, we can use CL:1 (classifier one handshape)
to represent Emily as she struts down the hall and out the door, then tears
up the sidewalk, without having to re-identify Emily again and again.
2. CL:S s
We agree that I'm telling you about what happened to my head during a recent
roller coaster ride. Now, I can proceed to use CL:S (classifier S
handshape) to convey what happened concerning my poor head.
3. CL:3 3
You already know that my right-hand CL:3 (classifier three handshape) is my car, and my left-hand CL:3 is
the yellow MX-5 Miata driven by my brother-in-law, Henry. Now, I can use
the CL:3s while I'm thrilling you with the spine-tingling tale.

Believe it or not, you can actually buy a metal
street sign that says Terp Drive.
(We could not get over this.) Click the sign for more information.
ASL CLASSIFIER
HANDSHAPES
What follows is not an exhaustive list, but a place to start that offers
examples of what each classifier handshape might represent or how it might be
used ... after the noun it's
representing has already been precisely established, of course <grin>.
.
A
REMINDER ABOUT CODING |
On
this page, you are reading English, not ASL. [Duh.]
We are using written English to express ASL concepts: this is code
(aka: gloss). ASL
classifier handshapes represent concepts ... not numbers ... not letters. When
coding, the problem of blurring language, concept and meaning is difficult to
avoid, so we conscientiously point it out, and do our best to be clear and
precise. Please try to remember that when you see, for example, CL: 3,
this 3 does not mean three-ness because it's really code for "you
know, that classifier handshape that looks like a three." Even though
a classifier handshape may "look like" a number or letter, it is not. |
.
Appearance |
Classifier |
Examples |
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  |
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. |
CL:1 |
an upright person
person or streamers twirling
a thin cylindrical object (e.g. pencil)
used to delineate a 2-dimensional shape (square, poster, circle), not
3-dimensional objects. |
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.
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CL:3 |
a vehicle, generally motorized (car, snow mobile, tractor)
three people standing or walking together; a group of three |
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.
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CL:4 |
people lined up single-file
a leak flowing out of something
stripes, bars, fence pickets
long, streaming, flowing, waving, or dangling (hair; bunting)
four people standing or walking together; a group of four |
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Like a
CL:5 (claw), but thumb remains at palm.
.
.
.
|
CL:4
(claw) |
items dotted or peppered about (stars; freckles)
curled, fluffed (hair)
hairs or fur standing on-end |
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.
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CL:5 |
traffic
many people
many things
paper or leaves in mid-air floating downward
five people standing or walking together; a group of five |
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As though holding
a softball or
cantaloupe
using one hand.
.
.. |
CL:5
(claw) |
a
clump
crowd;
herd; village
all-curled-up
rough;
jagged |
|
|
As though making a thumbs-up gesture.
..
|
CL:A
(modified) |
inanimate
object
statue;
vase
house
|
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|
. |
CL:B |
smooth,
flat surface
roadway;
runway
book;
racecar; artwork displayed on the wall of a gallery
barrier;
wall
height
of animal
delineate
shape of 3-dimensional object (e.g.: house), not 2-dimensional
shape.
|
|
|
Move thumb out of the way then
fingers bend sharply at the knuckles.
,
. |
CL:B
(bent) |
height
of human
|
|
|
. |
CL:C |
large, long, cylindrically shaped, round, or oval object (column;
pillar; sewer-pipe)
thick, cylindrically shaped (bicep; thigh; tree stump)
very thick (encyclopedia; huge stack of paperwork)
deep (snow)
big, toothy smile |
|
|
Use thumb and index finger.
Remaining fingers are tucked-in
(as S)..
. |
CL:C
(modified) |
(newspaper column; article; stripe)
medium-sized, round, flat object (cookie; tea saucer;
badge) |
|
|
. |
CL:F |
small,
thin, round objects (button; coin;
eye-gaze
long,
thin, cylindrically shaped object (stick; dowel; rod) |
|
|
. |
CL:G |
very short or shallow (small stack papers; shallow water)
thin shapes (mustache; eyebrow; bird beak)
|
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|
. |
CL:I |
very
thin and long (string; wire; line or stripe)
|
|
|
. |
CL:L |
delineation
of object with corners (driver's license; greeting card)
pictures hung on a wall |
|
|
Curl your index finger.
Your thumb is unchanged.
..
.
|
CL:L
(modified) |
circular or oval-shaped object (dish; rug)
delineate visible surface (lake; paint-spill) |
|
|
. |
CL:O |
medium-sized, cylindrically shaped object (rod or tree branch;
hose; substantial cable or tube)
|
|
|
. |
CL:S |
solid, spherical object (head)
solid, packed tight, jammed
|
|
|
.
|
CL:U |
flat strip-shaped object (ribbon; strip of paper)
|
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.
|
CL:V |
two long, thin things, parallel to one another (train track)
two people, upright; side-by-side
eye gaze |
|
|
As the dominant hand in STEAL.
.
.
|
CL:V
(claw) |
4-legged
creature
seated human
crouching, squatting, hunched-down human
people or seats (chairs) arranged side-by-side
people or seats arranged in a circle or semi-circle |
|
|
.
|
CL:V
(upside-down) |
human
standing, walking, climbing
human
lying down |
|
|
.
|
CL:Y |
wide object
wide load
hippo's mouth
delineates span, width, breadth (vertical or horizontal extent) |
|
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.
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CL:Y
(upside-down) |
wide object
wide load
hippo's mouth; heavy person whose weight shifts side-to-side
delineates span, width, breadth (vertical or horizontal extent) |
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This page
was edited:
09/13/2009
This page has been visited
times since: May 13, 2009.
TerpTopics is a trademark and service mark of TerpTopics, LLC.
© 2009.
All rights reserved.
TerpTopics™ is an
independent entity; as such does not claim or attempt to claim, represent, or
imply by any means whatsoever that it is associated with any other entity that
may or may not offer services, goods, or information of interest to interpreter,
Deaf, or student communities. The opinions expressed here those of
TerpTopics unless otherwise stated. Please keep in mind that, while every
effort is made to present correct, appropriate, and reasonable information
that is based on our experience, anecdotal experiences of others, or developed
during the general course of study and professional development, we do not
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are made available throughout this site, and we hope that earnest seekers of
knowledge will take advantage of them.
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;)
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So many books;
so little time ...
Why waste it?
Click here
now.
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Discover films of interest
to ASL or interpreting students here.
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.
.
.

Did someone say
self-indulgence?
YUP!
Click here now!
;)
.
.
.
.
.
.

So many books;
so little time ...
Why waste it?
Click here
now.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Discover films of interest
to ASL or interpreting students here.
.
.
.
.
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.
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