Definitions
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun An acronym which is spelled and pronounced as a simple word American sign language.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- proper noun Abbreviation of
American Sign Language .
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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Stokoe, the recognized authority on the linguistics of Ameslan, writes of the sign for "female":
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Readers might be interested to know that Ameslan happens to show many remarkable similarities to Chinese in its syntax: e.g., that identical quotation applies to Chinese!
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I was delighted to read Hear Finish Before (Pause) You?, since one rarely comes across articles on sign language that deal with Ameslan rather than Signed English.
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Perhaps the best thing about Ms. Brown's article is the simple fact that she makes it clear that Ameslan is indeed a language, not just a lexicon of signs.
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Ms. Brown, rightly stressing the fact that Ameslan has a grammar of its own, uses some of the most salient differences between its syntax and English syntax to illustrate this fact:
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(In fact, they are even outweighed by the mere fact that an article appeared on Ameslan in the first place.)
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If you want Ameslan, be sure you're really being given Ameslan.
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Finally, Ms. Brown leaves the reader with the unfortunately inaccurate impression that sign-language classes and textbooks all teach Ameslan.
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I have all too often heard the naive claim that neither Ameslan nor Chinese "has a grammar."
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"Think funny (pause) you?" translates from Ameslan into English either as: "Isn't he funny?" or "So you think he's funny, do you?" depending on whether the signer wears a smiling facial expression and relaxed posture, or a grim facial expression and threatening posture.
Comments
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