The pressure for the historical change moving some fingerspelled words to the side of signs is understandable . N-O is artificial and based on English orthography . The lexicalized form of N-O is more natural and easier to produce . Saying no in ASL is highly frequent , thus having it signed would be beneficial . I must add that a vast majority of signs have been developed from within ASL , not English . The role of fingerspelling in ASL is strong , however . Supporting this , " fingerspelled words appear as frequently as 7 % -10 % in the overall vocabulary in everyday signing " ( Brentari & Padden , 2001 , p . 103 ).
In addition , the search through the online Historical Sign Language Database ( HSLDB ) website provides a solid fact that there was indeed an old sign for ‘ No ’. The 1923 book authored by John Michaels indicates the sign NEGATIVE for NO , which is executed as “( 1 ) Hold the right hand out in front of you with the palm turned down . ( 2 ) Give the hand a swift movement to the right ” ( p . 96 ). See the video below for the reenactment of the sign :
I cannot help but wonder why the true sign , NO is no longer in use . Going back to his deathbed , it is safe to conclude that Bell had the option of signing NO , or rather fingerspelling N-O or producing the lexicalized version of N-O . Since the multiple reports on his ' last dying words ' were written in English , the exact response that he made to his wife , Mabel , was lost in translation and possibly to history as well .
Note : Special thanks to Dr . Ted Supalla for his consultation regarding the early forms of ASL and to Dr . Sam Supalla for feedback on my editorial .
References Ballin , A . ( 1998 ). The deaf mute howls . Washington , DC : Gallaudet University Press .
Brentari , D ., & Padden , C . A . ( 2001 ). Native and foreign vocabulary in American Sign Language : A lexicon with multiple origins . In D . Brentari ( Ed .), A cross-linguistic investigation of word formation ( pp . 87-119 ). Mahwah , NJ : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates , Publishers .
Bruce , R . V . ( 1973 ). Bell : Alexander Graham Bell and the conquest of solitude . Ithaca , NY : Cornell University Press . Gray , C . ( 2006 ). Reluctant genius : Alexander Graham Bell and the passion for invention . New York , NY : Arcade Publishing .
Grosvenor , E . S ., & Wesson , M . ( 1997 ). Alexander Graham Bell : The life and times of the man who invented the telephone . New York , NY : Harry N . Abrams , Inc .
Higgins , D . ( 1923 ). How to talk to the deaf . St . Louis , MO : Hidding . Lane , H . ( 1984 ). When the mind hears : A history of the deaf . New York , NY : Random House . Mackay , J . ( 1997 ). Alexander Graham Bell : A life . New York , NY : John Wiley & Sons , Inc . Michaels , J . W . ( 1923 ). A handbook of the sign language of the deaf . Atlanta , GA : Home Mission Board Southern Baptist Convention . Sign Media , Inc . ( 2003 ). The preservation of American Sign Language : The complete historical collection [ DVD ]. Burtonsville , MD : Sign Media , Inc .
Supalla , T ., & Clark , P . ( 2014 ). Sign language archeology : Understanding the history and evolution of American Sign Language . Washington , DC : Gallaudet University Press .
The Power of ASL 4 Spring 2017 – Issue 5