ASL-phabet
Encyclopedia
ASL-phabet, or the ASL Alphabet, is a writing system
designed by Samuel Supalla for American Sign Language
(ASL).
The ASL-phabet is based on the Stokoe notation
, and like it is a phonemic script, but it has been simplified to the point where there is some ambiguity (homograph
s), that is, more than one sign spelled the same way. For example, whereas Stokoe has 24 letters encoding types of movement, ASL-phabet has just 5. However, the authors find that it is sufficient to look up ASL words in an ASL–English dictionary.
Altogether, ASL-phabet has 22 letters for hand shape, 5 for location, and 5 for movement. They are written in that order, with the possibility for several letters of each type, such as two handshape letters for a two-handed sign.
Like the Stokoe notation, the ASL-phabet does not encode facial expressions or mouthing
, and so is perhaps not sufficient for extended text. However, Hulst & Channon (2010) note, "This system, much more than SignWriting
, acknowledges the fact (rightly, we believe) that a written representation of a word does not need to be a recipe to produce it, but only to be sufficiently unique to act as a trigger to activate the relevant words in the reader’s mind."
Writing system
A writing system is a symbolic system used to represent elements or statements expressible in language.-General properties:Writing systems are distinguished from other possible symbolic communication systems in that the reader must usually understand something of the associated spoken language to...
designed by Samuel Supalla for American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
(ASL).
The ASL-phabet is based on the Stokoe notation
Stokoe notation
Stokoe notation is the first phonemic script used for sign languages. It was created by William Stokoe for American Sign Language , with Latin letters and numerals used for the shapes they have in fingerspelling, and iconic glyphs to transcribe the position, movement, and orientation of the hands...
, and like it is a phonemic script, but it has been simplified to the point where there is some ambiguity (homograph
Homograph
A homograph is a word or a group of words that share the same written form but have different meanings. When spoken, the meanings may be distinguished by different pronunciations, in which case the words are also heteronyms. Words with the same writing and pronunciation A homograph (from the ,...
s), that is, more than one sign spelled the same way. For example, whereas Stokoe has 24 letters encoding types of movement, ASL-phabet has just 5. However, the authors find that it is sufficient to look up ASL words in an ASL–English dictionary.
Altogether, ASL-phabet has 22 letters for hand shape, 5 for location, and 5 for movement. They are written in that order, with the possibility for several letters of each type, such as two handshape letters for a two-handed sign.
Like the Stokoe notation, the ASL-phabet does not encode facial expressions or mouthing
Mouthing
In sign language, mouthing is the production of visual syllables with the mouth while signing. Although not present in all sign languages, and sometimes not in signers at all levels of education, where it does occur it may be an essential element of a sign, distinguishing signs which would...
, and so is perhaps not sufficient for extended text. However, Hulst & Channon (2010) note, "This system, much more than SignWriting
SignWriting
SignWriting is a system of writing sign languages. It is highly featural and visually iconic, both in the shapes of the characters, which are abstract pictures of the hands, face, and body, and in their spatial arrangement on the page, which does not follow a sequential order like the letters that...
, acknowledges the fact (rightly, we believe) that a written representation of a word does not need to be a recipe to produce it, but only to be sufficiently unique to act as a trigger to activate the relevant words in the reader’s mind."
External links
- ASL-phabet homepage, with an ASLphabet-to-ASL video input system and an ASL-to-English dictionary for children.