CHAPTER 15 Gestures and sign languages
DESCRIPTION
Head and eye movement and several specific types of facial expressions. For example when signing " thank-you " you articulate it with a head nod and a smiling face. Finger-spelling is a system of hand configurations conventionally used to represent the letters of the alphabet ASL is a linguistic system designed for the individual medium, in face-to-face interaction. The majority of signs are located around the neck and head. If signs are made near the chest or waist, it tends to be a two-handed sign. Representing signs THANK-YOU! One of the major problems is finding a way to incorporate those aspects of facial expression that contribute to the message. A solution is to write one line of manually signed words in all capitals and then, above this line, to indicate the nature and extent of the facial expression that contributes to the message. The q in the transcription is used to show that the facial expression indicated a question function throughout the signing of what would be translated as: Can i borrow the book?" ________________ q me borrow the book
REFLECTION
In this chapter we talk about The discourse analysis of the spoken language can not be limited to the words used in the discourse and its grammatical arrangement. It is well known, for example, that speakers commonly make gestures while speaking. These gestures often provide independent information or important clues necessary for a clear understanding of the speaker ' s message. Pointing to a book when it says ' this book ' identifies the book being discussed. Without the deictic gesture, the particular book described may not be identifiable. Other gestures can provide complementary information to spoken words. In any case, the recipient must combine the grammatically coded spoken information with the gestural information to produce a message that incorporates both.