Elements of a sign - Also called the Five Sign Parameters
A complete sign is a symbolic representation of a thing, action or concept.
Each sign is made up of 4 distinct elements
In order for a sign to convey the proper meaning, each of the elements must be done correctly.
In spoken language, a unit of sound conveys meaning. In ASL, the parameters convey meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Handshape
The shape or shapes in which we form or make our hand during the production of a sign.
There are over 50 different handshapes in ASL.
“A” – aunt , yourself “B” – blue “C” – hot “F” – soon “5” - farm
Movement
How the hands move; the action that makes the sign. Shows direction, emphasis & intensity.
Circle
Up/down
Forward/ backward
Size of motion
Speed of motion
Ex. up/ down, in/ out, come/ go, chair/sit
Location
Where your hands are located in relation to your body; changing position can change meaning.
Where you place and form the sign.
For example, mother/ father
Tense ( past, present , future)
Gender ( male, female)
Palm Orientation
The direction in which your palm is pointing; wrist position
forward – palms are facing away from the body
Inward – palms are facing toward the body
Horizontal – palms are parallel to the floor
Palm toward palm – palms are facing each other
Palm to palm - palms are applied to each other
My/mine - yours
Non manual markers– Eyes ,eyebrows, shape of mouth, head /shoulder movement. Conveys
meaning; is equivalent to voice, volume and tone
There are over 100 mouth movements in ASL that are used to determine I the word is an
adverb/ adjective. Body position/ role shifting conveys who is speaking.
Position of your eyebrows and facial expressions Informs the audience if is statement or
question.
Word
Hand shape
Movement
Location
Palm
Orientation
Non manual
marker