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ASL Parameters:


Signs are made up of parts.  Those parts are called parameters.  The five main parameters of signs are:

  1. Handshape
  2. Palm orientation
  3. Movement
  4. Location (or position)
  5. Nonmanual markers (such as facial expressions, head movements, shoulder raises, torso twists, and other non-hand movements)

An approach to learning ASL that you may find helpful is to pay attention to each of those parameters as you learn new signs.

This is especially true when learning signs that look very similar to other signs. 

Some signs differ from other signs in only one parameter. Signs that have only one parameter difference are called "minimal pairs."
 

Let's take a look at some examples of minimal pairs:

 

HANDSHAPE:

Example 1:  Compare these two signs:  MOTHER vs HEN.  Notice how the palm orientation, movement, and position/location are exactly the same. 
The only difference between these two signs is the handshape:
 

MOTHER 
Handshape:  "5"

*Note: The above sign is one version of "mother" for example purposes. There are other ways to produce this sign but let's keep it simple for now. This same advice applies to many of the signs in this discussion.

HEN
Handshape:  "3"

 

 

Example 2: 
Compare these three signs:  FATHER vs ROOSTER vs INDIA.  In all three of these signs, the thumb touches the forehead and uses a double tapping movement. 
The palm orientation, movement, and location are exactly the same.  The only difference is in the handshape.

FATHER
Handshape:  "5"

*Note: The above sign is one version of "father" for example purposes. There are other ways to produce this sign but let's keep it simple for now. This same advice applies to many of the signs in this discussion.

ROOSTER
Handshape:  "3"


INDIA
Handshape:  "A"

*Note: Many signs have different versions.  There are other ways to sign India.  The above way is a common variation but not the only variation.

 

PALM ORIENTATION

Example 1:  Compare these two signs:  NOW vs STAY. 
Notice that the handshape, location, and movement are generally the same. 
Both use a "Y" handshape.  Both move downward* and both are placed in front of the body.  The main difference is the palm orientation.
 

NOW
Palm Orientation:  The palm of faces in (or angled up - somewhat)

 

STAY
Palm Orientation:  The palm faces down

*Some people may add a bit of forward movement to the downward movement of STAY.
 

 

Example 2: 
Compare these two signs:  CHILDREN vs THING.  The handshape, movement, and location are the same.  The only difference is in the palm orientation.
 

CHILDREN
Palm Orientation:  Palm faces down

 

THING
Palm Orientation:  Palm faces up

 

 

MOVEMENT

Example 1: Compare the signs:  FATHER vs GRANDFATHER.  Notice that the handshape, location, and palm orientation.  Both use a "5" handshape.  The only difference is in the movement.  
 

FATHER
Movement:  Double or single tap of the thumb of the "5" handshape on the forehead.


GRANDFATHER 
Movement:  A double forward arcing movement of the "5" hand

 

Example 2:  Compare these two signs:  AUNT vs. REFUSE/WON'T.  The handshape, location and palm orientation are the same.  The only difference is in the movement.
 

AUNT
Movement:  A twisting/shaking movement of the hand

 

REFUSE / WON'T
Movement:  Hand moves backward, over the shoulder

 

 

LOCATION/POSITION

Example 1: Compare the signs:  MOTHER vs FINE.  Notice that the handshape, location, and palm orientation.  Both use a "5" handshape.  The only difference is in the location.
 

MOTHER
Location:  chin


FINE
Location:  mid-chest

 

The above examples are "minimal pairs" that only differ in one general parameter. If signs differ in more than one parameter they are not minimal pairs.  


 

MULTIPLE PARAMETER DIFFERENCES

Sometimes two signs look a lot alike, except there are a few differences in parameters. 

Example 1: Compare these two signs:  YESTERDAY vs TOMORROW.  The handshape and location are the same, but there is a significant difference in movement and a more subtle difference in palm orientation.
 

YESTERDAY
Movement:  Hand moves backward, utilizing a slight outward arc 
Palm Orientation:  palm faces forward

 

TOMORROW
Movement:  A forward pivot movement.  Starts with the thumb pointed to the rear. Ends with the thumb pointing up. 
Palm Orientation:  palm faces jaw

 

Example 2: Compare these two signs:  EVERYDAY vs AUNT.  The differences here are more pronounced.  Both use the same handshape but the palm orientation and movement are very different.  The location is roughly the same, but the hand position is slightly different
 

EVERYDAY
Movement:  A double forward ovular movement.  That is, the hand move forward and then returns back to the starting position to move forward again.
Palm Orientation:  palm faces jaw
Hand Position:  very close to the jaw

 

AUNT
Movement:  A twisting/shaking movement of the hand
Palm Orientation:  palm faces out at roughly a 45 degree inward angle
Hand Position:  Near the jaw, but about few inches off to the side.

 

 

Example 3:  Compare these two signs:  MOOD vs HAT.  The handshape and movement are the same.  The location and orientation are different.

 

MOOD
Location:  Cheek/jaw area
Orientation: Facing the cheek

 

HAT
Location:  Top of head
Orientation: Facing downward



 

NONMANUAL MARKERS

Facial expressions and are an important part of sign language.   When we use facial expressions, eyebrow movements, mouth shape changes, head movements, shoulder raises, torso twists, and other non-hand-based body movements to add meaning to our signs we are using what we call "nonmanual markers."
 

Nonmanual markers (or NMM's for short) are non-hand based signals we can add to signs to provide additional information regarding our meaning.  We can use NMM's to do things like clarify, negate, or add emphasis.

For example, if you nod vigorously while signing YES, you change the meaning into an emphasized "YES!"  We can use our facial expressions to indicate mood -- such as sad, happy, bored angry, etc.

 

Let's take a look at a few examples.
 

WON'T/REFUSE
Facial Expression:  frown/scowl; brows furrowed, mouth downturned


FEAR - afraid, scare, scared, frighten
Facial expression:  one of terror; eyes widen, eyebrows raised

HAPPY
Facial Expression:  a smile


SKINNY/THIN
Nonmanual marker:  Cheeks sucked in, lips pursed

 

OBESE/very FAT
Nonmanual marker:  Puffed cheeks, mouth closed

 

VOMIT - gross, detest, hate, can't stand it
Nonmanual marker:  tongue sticks out, with a grimacing facial expression


SMALL, very small
Nonmanual marker: mouth pursed, eyes squinted



FACIAL GRAMMAR

Nonmanual markers can be used to indicate what type of question you are asking.

For example, open-ended questions (the type that require a more detailed answer than just yes or no) usually end with the eyebrows furrowed. 
Questions that require only a yes/no response tend to use raised eyebrows.

 

YES / NO QUESTIONS (raised eyebrows)

A question that requires a response of YES or NO
Generally, this involves questions that ask if a person likes, wants, has, or did something.   

Yes / no "like" question:

YOU LIKE DANCE YOU? (Do you like to dance?)


Yes / no "want" question:

YOU WANT BABY? (Do you want a baby?)


Yes / no "have" question:

MOTORCYCLE, YOU HAVE? (Do you have a motorcycle?)

Yes / no DO/DID/ACTION question:
YOU FINISH? (Are you done?)

 


WH-type questions  (Brows furrowed)
(Also called "OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS")

Generally, any question that asks a non-rhetorical question involving concepts such as WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY and WHEN are considered to be "open-ended." 
What is why we sometimes call these "WH-type" questions (because they tend to involve words that start with "wh...").

Open-ended questions are generally marked with a furrowed brow.

 

WHO


YOUR TEACHER, WHO? (Who is your teacher?)

 

WHY


YOU SAD WHY? (Why are you sad?)

 

WHERE

 

YOU LIVE WHERE? (Where do you live?)


 

 

Notes: 
Also see:
Parameters of ASL (discussion)
and
Reducing parameter errors

 


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