ASL has an inventory of generally recognized ASL words using specific handshapes at specific locations, but peoples' actual signs can be quite varied. Just like pace, pitch and pausing in written English, ASLSJ can only hint at how fast something is signed, how many times it is repeated, or what facial / body expressions are used.
ASLSJ breaks ASL words into a sequential pattern for writing. These syllables are in two groups separated by a hyphen. Before the hyphen is the initial hand placement. After the hyphen is the movement and possibly the destination hand placement.
Sections:
1) Body tilt, eye gaze, head nod / shake, movement speed
2) Finger spelling
3) Handshape
4) Base-hand* handshape
5) Location
6) Palm facing
7) Touch or Distance
8) Movement
9) Ending handshape or palm facing
10) Repetition
1) Body tilt, eye gaze, head nod / shake, movement speed
Starting character: ' (apostrophe) or q
Description: Describe body language
'r = looking and signing to the wide-side*
's = looking and signing to the base-side*qf = move fast
qn = shaking head side to side
qs = move slowly
qy = nodding head up and down
2) Finger spelling
Starting character: w
Uses: The next word is a spelled-out English word using the ASL manual alphabet
w-Soon = English word "soon"
w = English word indicator
-Soon = fingerspell letters S, O, O, N
wqfz-VP = Vice President
w = English word indicator
qf = forehead height qz = on body (to forehead) -VP = fingerspell letters V then P
3) Handshape
Starting character: any first letter except p followed by b,c,e,n
Uses: First two letters of the word describe the wide-hand* handshape or both hands' matching handshape
bei-z = mine
 Be = wide-hand* open-B handshape (four fingers together and flat with palm)(presumed chest height)
 hi = palm facing in toward body
-vz = move hand onto body (to chest)bezi-uy = happy
Be = open-B handshape(presumed chest height)
qz = on body (to chest) hi = palm facing in toward body -vu = move hand upvy = repeat movement (come back and move again)
cnzi-d = hungry
 Cn = C handshape(presumed chest height)
qz = on body (to chest) hi = palm facing in toward body -vd = move down4) Base-hand* handshape
Starting character: first letter p followed by any letter
Uses: The P syllable is a prefix showing the base-hand uses a different handshape than the wide-hand
plnr-xbs-tsy = word
 p Ln = base-hand 1 handshape (first finger extended flat with palm) hr- = base-hand palm facing wide side (across body) Xb = wide-hand G handshape (first finger and thumb bent)
(presumed chest height)
 hs = wide-hand palm facing base-side (across body)-vts = move wide hand base-side (across body) to touch base-hand
vy = repeat movement (come back and touch again)
pbeu-aestd-ii = help me
p Be = base-hand open-B handshape hu- = base-hand palm up Ae = wide-hand open-A handshape (all fingers closed to palm, thumb spread out)
(presumed chest height)
hs = wide-hand palm facing base-side (across body) td = wide-hand touching down on base-hand-vii = both hands move in
pbeu-onu-tdy = money
p Be = base-hand* open-B handshape hu- = base-hand palm facing up On = wide-hand* O handshape (four fingers together and bent, first finger touching thumb)(presumed chest height)
hu = wide-hand palm facing up -vtd = move down to touch base-handvy = repeat the movement (come back and touch again)
5) Location
Starting characters: e, f, a, q, z
Uses: Wide-hand* location relative to body
bnqezd-dy = autumn
Bn = fingerspelled B handshape
qe = at elbow
qz = on body (on elbow)
hd = palm facing down
-vd = move hand down
vy = repeat (come back and move again)
befs-oy = lecture
Be = open-B handshape (base-hand is not used) qf = forehead height hs = palm facing base-side
-vo = move hand out toward audiencevy = repeat (come back and move again)
onai-zy = food
On = O handshape (base-hand is not used) qa = chin / neck height hi = palm facing in toward body
-vz = move hand onto bodyvy = repeat action (come back and move again)
6) Palm facing
Starting character: d, i, o, r, s, u Combining character: p
Uses: Direction to face the palms and point the fingers or knuckles
beo-o = yours
Be = open-B handshape(presumed chest height)
 ho = palm facing out toward audience
-vo = move hand out toward audiencelns-o = you
Ln = 1 handshape(presumed chest height)
hs = palm facing base side
-vo = move hand out toward audiencebbrspd-rs = introduce
Bb = bent-B handshape
hr spd- = base-hand* palm wide-side; wide-hand palm base side with knuckles turned down
-vrs = base-hand move wide-side; wide-hand move base side (toward each other)
7) Touch or Distance
Starting character: j, t Combining characters: c, e, w
Uses: Wide-hand* relative to base-hand
beddtu-o = enter
Be = both hands open-B handshapes(presumed chest height)
 hdd = base and wide-palms facing down
tu = wide-hand touching up to base-hand
-vo = move wide-hand outceddju-sy = above
 Ce = both hands 5 handshapes (four fingers and thumb spread apart flat with palm)(presumed chest height)
hdd = both palms facing down
ju = wide-hand farther up from base-hand
-vs = move wide-hand to base-side (across body)
vy = repeat movement (come back and move again)
8) Movement
Movement characters: h, i, m, o, r, s, t, u, w, z Combining characters: g, l
Uses: Shows the wide-hand* movement or both hands' movements
anrs-ioy = race
An = A handshape
(presumed chest height)
hrs = base-hand palm wide-side; wide-hand palm base-side (facing each other)
-vio = base-hand moves in; wide-hand moves out (move past each other)
vy = repeat movement (come back and move again)
lnfi-sgdy = consider
Ln = 1 handshape
qf = forehead height
hi = palm in
-vsgd = move base-side (across body) and circle down
vy = repeat movement (continue circling)
Cnqszs-rld = Christ
Cn = C handshape
(presumed chest height)
qs = base-side* of chest (across body)
qz = on body (to chest)
-vrld = move wide-side angled down
9) Ending handshape or palm facing
Starting character: h or l
Uses: Shows the fingers bent into a new handshape or the wrist twisted into a new palm facing direction
cbfi-ol-on = out
Cb = claw-5 handshape
qf = forehead height
hi = palm in
-vo = move out
l- = wide-hand* changes handshape in movement
On = new wide-hand handshape
lnfo-ahs = first
Ln = 1 handshape
qf = forehead height
ho = palm facing out
-va = hand stays in place
hs = palm facing base-side (across body)
10) Repetition
Starting character: y or k
Uses: Shows the movement occurs more than once, or gets undone
beud-tdy = school
Be = open-B handshape
hud = base-hand* palm up; wide-hand palm-down (facing each other)
-vtd = move down to touch base-hand
vy = repeat movement (come back and move again)
pber-les-tsk = illegal
p Be = base-hand* B handshape
hr- = base-hand palm wide-side (across body)
Le = wide-hand* L handshape
hs- = wide-hand palm base-side (across body)
-ts = move base-side to touch base-hand
k = come back (undo movement)
* I use the words Wide and Base in place of the more technical terms "Dominant Hand" and "Non-Dominant Hand." Most people use their right hand for the Wide-hand, and their left hand for the Base-hand. Left-handed people use their left hand for the Wide-hand, and their right hand for the Base-hand.
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