What happens to Indigenous African Sign Languages? Celebrating International Mother Language Day

On the face and the body: The internal structure of signs (Understanding the linguistics of sign language (Part 2)) 

I don't remember the topic of this class, but the lecturer talked about teenage pregnancy and sex among the youth. I realised that some of the students in the class turned to look at me. They wanted to see how I would represent SEX in sign language. In Ghanaian Sign Language (GSL) SEX is produced on the face with X-handshape (see image below). I could see the shock on some faces, probably they expected SEX to be signed in a different location with a different shape of the hands. Whether signed on the face or on the body, SEX is sex. Other sign languages have different locations and shape of hands for this sign. This blog post will introduce the internal structure of signs.

SEX in GSL

SEX in BSL (one variant)

SEX in ASL

In sign language, the term phonology is used to refer to the linguistic study of the structure of signs. The phonology of the sign considers five basic parts of the sign: the shape of the hands (handshape), the location of the sign, the movement of the hand(s), the direction of the palms (orientation) and non-manual features (1,2). These phonological features of the sign are referred to as the parameters of the sign. The handshape, location, movement and orientation are jointly referred to as the manual articulators because they rely on the hands. The non-manual form relies on facial expression and other bodily gestures. The manual and the non-manual forms are universal but there are also variations that create differences between all the sign languages we have in the world.

In GSL for example, SEX is signed with X-handshape, the location is from the temple and moves to the cheek. The same X-handshape is used for the sign SWEAT. However, the location for SWEAT is on the forehead. On the other hand, the sign SEX in American Sign Language (ASL) uses the same X-handshape, but the location is from the cheek and moves to the temple. British Sign Language (BSL) uses a different handshape, location, orientation and movement for the same sign. The Phonological parameters of signs are relevant to distinguish similar signs (e.g. SEX and SWEAT in GSL).

SWEAT in GSL

The non-manual features in sign languages rely on facial expression and the position of the body. These go a long way to add meaning to the word. For instance in GSL, the sign SAD comes with a facial expression that adds meaning to the sign. 

SAD in GSL

There are pairs of signs that are different in just one parameter. These are known as minimal pairs.  Minimal pairs in the sign language are based on the differences in the parameters and they have differences in meaning. For instance, in GSL, MOTHER and FATHER have the same handshape, orientation and movement but different locations. 

 

MOTHER

FATHER

When you come across a sign, it will be helpful to remember the phonological parameters and identify if any of the parameters bears a form-meaning resemblance relationship with the real-world object. 

So now you know, SEX can be signed on the face, on the body or in space depending on the individual sign languages and the different phonological parameters of the sign. 

If you want to know more about African sign languages, please I suggest the conference below to you. It is free to participants and it will be on zoom. 

https://old.linguistlist.org/issues/31/31-2688.html

Remember to post your comments and questions. 

References

1. Edward, M., 2014. The Phonology and the Morphology of the Ghanaian Sign language. Abidjan, Cote d’lvoire, ATELIER International Conference.

2. Valli, C., Lucas, C., Mulrooney, K. & Villanueva, M., 2011. Linguistics of American sign language: An introduction. 5th Edition ed. Washington DC: Gallaudet University Press.

Images

GSL: McGuire, c. & Deutsch, C., 2015. Ghanaian Sign Language Dictionary. Second ed. s.l.:Our Talking Hands, Inc.

BSL: bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk

ASL: www.handspeak.com