Grammar

jillio said:
Post #114 questioned whether that structure could be seen in ASL conversational usage. Looks like she didn't loose her bet at all.:lol:
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The bet was that I would say, "That doesn't count," not that I would ask about how common such a grammatical construct appears in everyday conversation among native signers. ;)

(Which I think is a fair question. I just wanted to be sure you weren't stretching the rules to come up with something that was rarely used in real life.)
 
Mountain Man said:
My linguistics professor will certainly be interested in your example. Thanks. :)


Yes, I am familiar with that sign.
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I'm glad that your linguistics professor will be interested. Why don't you invite him to join the forum and participate in the discussion.

Is your linguistics professor a specialist in the linguistics of ASL, or does his expertise apply to spoken languages?

Could you describe the sign for me?
 
jillio said:
I'm glad that your linguistics professor will be interested. Why don't you invite him to join the forum and participate in the discussion.

Is your linguistics professor a specialist in the linguistics of ASL, or does his expertise apply to spoken languages?
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She's the head of the ASL/Interpreting department at my school. As for participating in a forum discussion, I'll mention it, but I doubt she has the time.

jillio said:
Could you describe the sign for me?
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Palm orientation up; neutral space; handshape D, index finger flips back and forth several times to the make the O handshape so that it looks like "DODODO". Frequently both hands are used, though not always. Another variation just taps the thumb and index finger together a few times with the rest of the fingers curled into the palm.

Edit: Forgot to mention eyebrows down, head forward slightly (it is a "wh" question, afterall).
 
jillio said:
I'm glad that your linguistics professor will be interested. Why don't you invite him to join the forum and participate in the discussion.

Is your linguistics professor a specialist in the linguistics of ASL, or does his expertise apply to spoken languages?

Could you describe the sign for me?
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Did he run away?
 
Mountain Man said:
She's the head of the ASL/Interpreting department at my school. As for participating in a forum discussion, I'll mention it, but I doubt she has the time.


Palm orientation up; neutral space; handshape D, index finger flips back and forth several times to the make the O handshape so that it looks like "DODODO". Frequently both hands are used, though not always. Another variation just taps the thumb and index finger together a few times with the rest of the fingers curled into the palm.

Edit: Forgot to mention eyebrows down, head forward slightly (it is a "wh" question, afterall).
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Wait...is she a linguistics professor, or an ASL/ITP professor? Those are 2 different departments and two different fields of study.
 
jillio said:
Wait...is she a linguistics professor, or an ASL/ITP professor? Those are 2 different departments and two different fields of study.
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He is from Ohio. Might be easy to check the programs in your state to find out?
 
Bottesini said:
He is from Ohio. Might be easy to check the programs in your state to find out?
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Ah, yes. It would be helpful to know which school he attends, but I can check all the ASL/ITP programs in the state and see if any have a linguist as the head of the program. Or any heads that are teaching linguistics courses, as he did identify her as his "linguistics professor."
 
jillio said:
Well, I don't know how regularly you would see it used. That would depend on how regularly someone threw a ball through their window and broke it without them knowing who that someone was. But, yes, natives would sign this way, just as natives would use some shorthand and abbreviations that are common to native signers. The first thing that comes to mind is the sign WHAT DO which is completely different than the sign WHAT+DO. The first is a single sign, the second is two signs in conjunction. I have yet to see anyone but a native use the sign WHAT DO unless they had been taught to sign by a native. It is not a sign usually taught in formal classroom environments. I'm sure that DBG knows the sign I am speaking of, and where and how it would be used in conversation, as well as several others on this forum.
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Good point, Jillo. As you said, formal classes you will learn the language in its formal sense. It is not until you go out into the community you learn the conversational and informal aspects of the language. Same as in English...you learn you cannot end a sentence with a preposition in a formal English class. But in conversation you will hear people do it all the time: "Why are you going to town for?" Hardly anyone says "For what will you be going to town?"
 
jillio said:
Wait...is she a linguistics professor, or an ASL/ITP professor? Those are 2 different departments and two different fields of study.
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I call her my linguistics professor because she is the professor who teaches the linguistics course in my program, but she also teaches entry level ASL courses and is the head of the ASL/ITP department.

I attend Columbus State Community College. Here's the program I'm currently enrolled in: http://www.cscc.edu/programs/descriptions/itt.htm
 
Okay, now it is becoming a bit clearer. She teaches an intro course in the "linguistics of ASL" as part of a 2 year ITP. But, in a 2 year program, she would be called an instructor, not a professor, nor a linguist.
 
Mountain Man said:
Looks like you lost that bet. :P
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English is English..

For an example... Take a foreign person..

speaking. They are not speaking in perfect syntax or perfect grammar... but are they still speaking or signing the English language??
 
jillio said:
Okay, now it is becoming a bit clearer. She teaches an intro course in the "linguistics of ASL" as part of a 2 year ITP. But, in a 2 year program, she would be called an instructor, not a professor, nor a linguist.
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New Page 2

Here is all you need to know about the faculty there. :)
 
deafbajagal said:
It applies to both. Even though the structure may be different, both languages have passive voice.

The to-be verbs are not signed literally n ASL but they do exist...even though we do not sign "have been" literally, when we sign a word and add "finish" to it (play + *finish finish*) then we are using to-be verbs in that sense.

Weird, I know. But passive voice exists in ASL, as you and Jillo have explained in great details. Good going! :)
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This all is so confusing! I am just glad Im not an English teacher like you are. That is why we need more people like you! :lol:
 
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