Classifiers

Basic Description / Beginning Storytelling

Telling Simple Stories Using Classifiers

(SW Group 1 Handshapes)

Handshape or Classifier?Classifier – a sign that represents classes of objects

Handshapes are one of the five fundamental building blocks of a sign: Handshape, movement, location, orientation, and nonmanual markers. Non-manual markers include those aspects of body language that do not involve the hands such as shoulder movements, head tilts, and facial expressions.  The handshape is literally the shape in which we form our hand during the production of a sign. (Remember the acronym HOLME?)

The movement or shape of certain signs can be modified in such a way as to include information about a referent's type, size, shape, movement, or extent.  Those signs which have this ability are "classifiers."It might be more accurate to call them "potential classifiers" since whether or not these "potential classifiers" become actual classifiers depends on how they are used in context.

Think of classifiers as a type of pronoun. You have to identify your pronoun before you can use it. Also you have to use it in context. I cant just start a conversation with you by signing, "HE WALK." I have to set up some sort of situation or context, then I spell F-R-E-D, and then point to the right then form the INDEX-finger-classifier (or "Classifier 1" also shown as CL:1)  and move it to the left.

from Bill Vicar’s site: http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/classifiers.htmUnit 5 Eyes on ASL #11

Show how a person moves, stick or pencil (position), legs,

path of flight

CL:1

Pencil or Stick (position)

CL:1-4

Describe Using Classifiers, Facial Expression and Signs

Little Classifier stories

Handshapes:

Classifiers – Cartoons

Draw what you think the instructor signed. Use stick figures. Show how the people are positioned.

1.Cliffhanger

2.Bobbing

3.Catty

4. Popeye

5. Old Ninja

6. Double Dutch

7. Spidey

Cliffhanger

Bobbing

Catty

Popeye

Double Dutch

Old Ninja

Spidey

SignWrite It!

1. Now use SignWriting to write one of the classifiers that the instructor used in each story to describe the cartoon.

2. When you are done, practice signing each story yourself

Classifiers and Handshape Groups

Using Basic Handshapes to Tell Stories

Gender-Related Signs

Man

Woman

Boy

Girl

To go, to meet, stick or pencil (position),

path of flightCL:1

To dance, to look at, to ride a horse

•CL: ^, A person’s legs or eyes

Bus, Car, Motorcycle, Boat; Accident

Vehicle movementCL: 3

To line up, picket fence, zebra stripes, rainbow

•CL: 4

Pencil or Stick (position)

CL:1-4

Walk (feet), Room, Door, Boat, Wall

CL:B (group 4 & 5)

SignWrite It, Then Tell It!

1. Make up 2 very brief classifier stories using CL from groups 1 – 5.

2. Draw little cartoons of your stories.

3. Use SignWriting to identify the handshapes of the classifiers next to your stories.

4. Tell one of your stories to a group.