Hello again!
Classifiers are not easy to learn, but it's very easy to visualize. ASL is a visual language and once we use classifiers, we're helping others to understand each other better. Classifiers are not an unique element in ASL, it is also used in English as well. For instance, in English they are also known as "category-words" and they're used to specify something. An example would be when we think of the word vehicle, we use sedans, trucks, SUVs, and so on to help them comprehend which vehicle we're talking about. In ASL, classifiers help us to understand the representation of an object. Classifiers tell us how big that object it, how soft it is, the movement, the shape and many more. It is sorta of like an adjective...
So, when we introduce that concept to the missionaries in the MTC learning ASL, they look at us like we're totally stupid. True, it is a completely different concept of expressing in ASL itself, but that helps our communication skills get wayyyyyyy better! Come to think of it, if we learn a language, we can't ignore the importance of classifiers because they describe something. If we don't learn classifiers, we can't really expect the audience to understand 100% of what we're saying. Here's an example of how we use classifiers in ASL. In this video, the man signing is very well known ASL Linguist, Ben Bahan.
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Here's an example - "I got into a vehicle and then we went to 120 mph" How BORING is that? Imagine a book written like that... We'll all be dead. Here's a better example - "I got into a Ferrari Testarossa then we sped up so fast that we hit 120 mph!" Much better, eh? CLASSIFIERS! CLASSIFIERS! CLASSIFIERS! CLASSIFIERS! When you watched Ben Bahan, wasn't his story very fascinating? It was because he was very descriptive and specific. We emphasize the importance of this vital concept of ASL by having the missionaries present a "blue box" presentation every saturday night. "Blue box"? It's named after the ancient gospel art kit where we show the pictures to the children or people to teach lessons. Right now, we have a re-vamped art kit that weighs about 20 pounds less :D. Anyway, back to the point, they all get to pick a picture and use classifiers, ONLY classifiers, to describe the story and its principle behind it. This definitely helps them improve their visual reception skills along with their own ASL expressive skills as well.
To be honest, when I was introduced to that "blue box" idea, I thought it of as trash and a total waste of time. With that attitude, the teachers forced me to do it. I did it then... wow... I realized that I do use classifiers a LOT. For the people who are learning ASL, you may be shy but if you get extroverted with signing to people and utilizing classifiers into your signing, your skills will go "BOOM". I testify that once we commit ourselves to learning classifiers and its importance within the ASL, our conversational and expressive skills will skyrocket. Again, it's not easy, so is everything else in life except being Deaf. Okay... maybe being Deaf has its struggles too, haha.
Without classifiers, ASL will not be fascinating and it'll be very monotonous. Today's generation do not enjoy black and white TVs of the past, and right now we're enjoying the 1080p HDTVs along with HDR photography. I think it's the same with ASL. The language has come a long way and the classifiers today are becoming so creative, and here's a funny video of how the language can be used to describe extreme things.
The missionaries in the MTC are doing well with this concept but a lot of them are still shy with using it. It is a different way of expressing yourself and that requires getting out of our own comfort zone to master this concept. We have one sister who's very talented with this concept and her ASL skills are very good because she's not shy. For all of the shy people out there, come out of your shells and try it! It's just like experimenting with something to see if it's good or not... (ALMA 32!)
I hope you all enjoyed this! Later!
Austin
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Great post, Austin. I never really thought about how complicated it is to learn ASL, but it's definitely more complex than just assigning a hand movement to every word. I'll be watching your translators tomorrow to see if I can pick up on any of these classifiers...
ReplyDeleteCommunication is such a fascinating subject to me. I hope you can get the missionaries to appreciate classifiers; they make sense and seem to make things much more simple
ReplyDeletelove all the videos you put up. It really adds a lot!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever explained to you that ASL doesn't have classifiers? (Sorry to burst your bubble) What you wrote about it correct but the term classifier is wrong, they are technically called depicting verbs. I sold back my grammar book or else I'd let you borrow it and read more in depth why they are depicting verbs and not classifiers. Next time I see you I can tell you more about it. Or ask Rachel J. she will know too. Or go to UVU and talk with the ASL linguistic teachers, Will and Flavia, you will be amazed.
ReplyDeleteBasically, they're not classifiers because of this. Think of what you would call classifer 1 or the 1 hand shape. What do you use that for? Typically you use it to show a person walking from point a to point b. So people have said that the hand shape 1 classifies a person. But it is used for other things as well. It doesn't have to be a person, it could be a monster, Big Bird. It could be used to place an object somewhere or to show the speedometer going up to 120 mph. The possibilities are endless of what that one 1 hand shape can do. It doesn't classify one thing but it does show or depict many different things depending on the verb. So it shows how a person, monster or big bird walked, skipped, ran, or hopped from point a to point b. And so on with other examples. The hand shape F or 9 is another example of why it is not a classifier. It is used to describe so many things that it doesn't classify one group of things.
But you are right, if an ASL user can master this skill then their signing will improve by leaps and bounds.
eliza... this is new information for me! thanks for correcting me! depicting verbs it is, and i'll have to speak to casey cropper about revising the language manual for missionaries. :D thanks again!
ReplyDeleteIt's new information for a lot of people. Most schools don't update their ASL books. Schools will buy new math books every 3 or 4 years but ASL teachers are still using books with information from the 70's. It makes me so mad! There is a lot of new information about ASL out there but people resist change so much. I don't understand why.
ReplyDeleteOh and Casey Cropper should know about this stuff. He audited one of the linguistic classes I took and was way into the class. And if he blows you off about this information then I guess he was just sucking up to the teacher.
ReplyDeletei will definitely ask him about it! he actually suggested to make some revisions to the MLB (missionary language book) several weeks ago, so i think he's pretty aware of this.
ReplyDeletejust wondering but how long are your missionaries in the MTC? and typically how many years (like semesters) do people take ASL to become conversation?
ReplyDeleteDescriptive Verbs are indeed a part of ASL, as well as Classifiers. There is new research indicating that BOTH are appropriate terms to use. There may be linguists who say that there is no such thing as a "classifier" and there will be another one who says that there is. They've both done research and "confirmed" their findings, but it's all simply terminology. The important part is that the concept is correct and you have the correct concept.
ReplyDeleteWhen I find conflicting information, I go to the people that I consider to be the number 1 authority. Those teaching and researching at Gallaudet University. They will be the ones on the breaking edge of new research and information.
And just an informational piece, 2 of the newest curriculums being used in public schools to teach ASL, one that was updated in 2008 and one in 2006 indicate the instruction of classifiers in their table of contents.
Good for you for taking the time to go indepth and learn more about ASL. I always enjoy seeing others who delve into the language that way that I do. It's incredibly fascinating and so much more rich than it is given credit for by the general population.
KUDOS!