Classifiers

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Classifiers
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What is a Classifier?

• CL stands for a particular group or class' of
  nouns.
• She woman, waitress, mom, etc(NOT man, waiter,
  dad)
• In the same way CL3 Vehicle (bus, car, boat,
  etc

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Several Important things about CLs

• They show how classifiers function as pronouns
• It anything in English/ ASL has a specific CL
• Show how classifiers can function as verbs
• The car hit the girl
• Can convey information about the manner of an
  action
• The car was driving fast
• Gives information about the location of the
  referents and their action.
• The red car hit the orange car on the passenger
  side.

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How do you use a CL?

•   CLs generally cannot be used in a sentence
  until the signer indicates which particular
  referent (e.g. a car) the classifier stands for. 
  This is usually done by signing or fingerspelling
  the noun and then using the CL that can represent
  that noun.
• EX CAR RED (CL3)
• Classifiers that function as pronouns are usually
  made with one hand, the other hand can represent
  another noun. (relative location/action of two
  referents.

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 ASL has a fairly large set of signs that are
called classifiers.  Linguists have found that
there are at least two types of classifiers

• True Classifiers (CL)
• Size and Shape Specifiers (SASSes)

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True Classifiers (CL) are signs in which a
particular hand shape, with a particular
palm orientation is used to represent the
location and actions of that noun. True CLs are
real signs with all five parameters.  Each
parameter has its own meaning

• Hand shape - gives information regarding size
  and shape.
•   Palm Orientation - provides information on
  locale and angle.
•   Movement - gives the nature of the action (how
  fast, etc.).
• Location - gives location and spatial
  orientation.
• NMGS - show emphasis for size, action, locale,
  etc.

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Size and Shape Specifiers

• A special kind of CL that illustrate certain
  physical features of a noun DCLs
• Indicate its location in space.
• Can occasionally be able to show movement (i.e.
  button popping off shirt') or how something is
  used (ICLs)

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DCL Descriptive Classifiers

• Describes size, shape, depth or texture of
  something
• When describing objects that are flat, use your
  index finger to trace the shape.
• When describing objects that have depth use the
  B,C,CLAW, or other hand shapes to show
  three-dimensionality.
• Look at the shapes as you describe them.
• Looking up into it
• Looking down at it
• Looking around it
• Looking inside or through it

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Instrument Classifiers ICL

• Use your weak hand to hold a reference point as
  you show how to use the lids, pumps, handles,
  etc
• Show the ICL last after you describe the object.
  (DCL Shape/ DCL Pattern/ ICL action

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DCL Descriptive Classifiers

• When describing size use the appropriate
  non-manual markers to indicate size
• oo for very small, thin, narrow, etc..
• mm for average or medium size
• cha for very large, wide, tall, etc

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DCL Descriptive Classifiers

• Show patterns or designs
• When describing the pattern or design on an
  object, your weak had should retain the DCL hand
  shape as a reference point. Then the design can
  be traced over the object with the dominate hand.
  It is sometimes better to use both hands when
  describing the pattern or design on the surface.

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DCL Descriptive Classifiers

• Descriptions for textures are usually signed with
  both hands after the description of the object
• Use different texture
• Bumpy puffy checks
• Dented-th
• Warped-th
• Very smooth-oo
• Shiny-oo
• Very solid-tight lips
• Soft puffed cheeks
• Fuzzy- oo

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DCL Descriptive Classifiers

• When signing Asymmetrical Combination, first sign
  the base shape then keep the weak hand in place
  for spatial reference as you describe the
  attachment.
• If an object has an attachment on your
  non-dominate side, use your dominant hand to hold
  a reference point while using your weak hand to
  describe the attachment.

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DCL Descriptive Classifiers

• Use the following general sequence rules for
  describing objects with multiple parts (use
  whichever one applies to the object)
• From general to specific
• From the biggest part to the smallest part/detail
• From the ground to the top
• From the least mobile to the most mobile
• Make sure you emphasize the features that
  distinguish your object from the others.

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Example Classifiers

• CL 1
• CL 2
• CL 3
• CL 4
• CL 5
• CL A
• CL B
• CL BB
• CL C

• CL CC
• CL F
• CL G
• CL L
• CL LL
• CL S
• CL V (Bent)
• CLX
• CL Y

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CL 1 Represents things that are longer than
wide and relatively slender

• Pens/ pencils
• Straws
• Rods
• needles

• People
• Used to outline a shape/ pattern
• Table
• Paper
• Legs

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CL 4

• Liquid
• Represents a group of many individuals/animals/
  various things lined up
• Ex. Birds on a phone line
• Ex. People seated in a semi-circle

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CL 5Represents a huge mass of thing

• Outline Uneven surfaces
• Location or movement of a group of people
• Rows of people who are standing/seated (both
  hands)
• (does not represent a certain number of)

• People
• Animals
• Birds
• Paper clips
• Trees
• Rocks
• Rough or uneven texture

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CL ARepresents things that are considerable in
size and shape

• Trophy
• House
• Vase
• Candle

• Mug
• Lamp
• Computer
• Statue

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CL BFlat / rectangular or square like items

• Table
• Bed
• Counter top

• Smooth Texture
• Continuous Surface
• Used to outline (smooth surface)

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CLC

• Cup
• Bottle
• Candle
• Cylinder Object
• Hole
• Pole

• Group of people
• Can be moved to show VERB
• Can show how large the group is depending on how
  close or far apart the fingertips are.

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CL FRepresents things that are small, roundish,
and does not have much depth

• Coin
• Candy
• Eye
• Coke bottle top
• pole

• Poker chip
• Small cookie
• button
• hole

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CL LL

• Hole (different in size and depth than CLF and
  CLC)
• Pole (different in size and depth than CLF and
  CLC)
• Flat round objects
• Tortilla Credit Card
• Frisbee Check
• Plate Index Card

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CL Bent V

• Chair
• Couch
• Person Seated

• Movements of Various movements
• Cat, dog, mouse, horse, cow, snake

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ClX

• Often represent things like a hook or hanger

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Plural Classifiers

• Orderly configuration, for example in a row
  repeat the classifier in a straight line with
  dominant hand

• Non-dominate hand is a starting point

ND (non-dom) D (Dom hand) gt gt gt
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Plural Classifiers

• If the signer wants to indicate that there are
  many things in a row, he/she would sweep the
  sign

ND D ________________________gt
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Signers Perspective of CL

• Various classifiers are used to describe and
  represent the same object depending on the
  referents perspective
• For Example Corn from far away CL1 / Corn
  close up CLCC
• Pole far away vs. Close CL1gtGgtFgtCC

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Other Perspective Considerations

• Describe from the front
• Describe in neutral space
• Describe from rear
• Describe from sitting position
• Describe as if on your body

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Other Perspective Considerations Describe from
the front

• If the object has a definite front and back,
  describe it as if you were standing in front of
  it
• EX TV, computer, radio, keyboard, VCR

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Other Perspective Considerations Describe in
Neutral Space

• If the object has no definite front or back,
  describe it in neutral space
• EX. ball, table, pots, pans, plant

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Other Perspective Considerations Describe from
the rear

• If the object is usually handled from the rear,
  describe it as if you were using it
• EX Video Camera, telescope, megaphone

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Other Perspective Considerations Describe from a
sitting position

• If the object is usually seen from a sitting
  position, describe attachments (recliner,
  steering wheel, turn signals) as seen if you were
  sitting in it.
• EX Sofa, bike, car

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Other Perspective Considerations Describe as if
on your body

• If the object id used on the body, describe it as
  if you were wearing it
• EX clothes, glasses, mask, gloves

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General Sequence for Describing Objects

• Name the object
• State the material its made of
• Color
• Use DCL for basic shape and size
• Describe distinctive features attachments, or
  designs
• Use ICL to show how its used

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Describing Fixed Objects

• Describe from the bottom to top
• Describe from the top to bottom
• Describe from the ceiling down.

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Describing Fixed Objects Describe from the
bottom to top

• If the object is columnar and standing upright on
  the floor
• Describe basic shape from bottom to top
• Add details

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Describing Fixed Objects Describe from the top
to bottom

• If the object is bulky and standing on the floor
  or ground
• Describe the basic shape starting with top then
  sides
• Describe type of door or how it functions (ICL)

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Describing Fixed Objects Describe from the
ceiling down

• If the object is columnar and hanging from the
  ceiling
• Describe from the ceiling down
• Add details
• Show how the item is used

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Conventional Uses of ClassifiersMany Classifiers
are ASL signs

• CL1
• Meet
• Hit
• Popular
• Grab
• Remind

• CL V
• Dance
• Fall-down
• Dive
• Jump
• Ride-in
• Restless
• Knell

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Conventional Uses of ClassifiersMany Classifiers
are ASL signs

• CL4
• Fence
• Cage
• Rainbow
• Jail
• Eyelashes (flirt)
• blood

• CL5
• Fire
• Assemble to
• Traffic
• War