Gender Variations of American Sign Language

In the book, A Companion to Linguistic Anthropology there is a chapter covering variations in different signed languages including ASL. This is essentially a compilation of the study of language as a culture. This particular chapter examines ASL. It also examines some common myths about ASL as well as some of the variations in ASL such as gender, region etc as well as in individual and group settings. The chapter also examines the relationship between sign language and a Deaf... community. Another relationship that is examined is the connection between sign and written language. Other sign languages from other countries are also explored. This chapter covers a wide variety of topics related to sign language. According to this source gender variations within ASL is seen in the lexicon, in cohesive devices, and in signing space (LeMaster, Monaghan& Duranti, 2004). However this section goes on to state that there is not much information readily available about gender variations within American Sign Languages. They are there but their presence appears to be overlooked. Another source to be examined explores the use of gendered language in the interpretive process. The author first examines existing research and literature on gender and then examine the sociolinguistic, interactional characteristics within interpreting. In order to do this she examines ASL as well as the interpreting field for a starting point. How does gender play into the interpreting process? There are differences in how males and females sign which may play into the dominance factor. Historically men have had power over women and some of that could translate into how signs are produced. This article tends to divert the attention away from actual signs that are different between men and women and goes into more so how interpreters may address or sign differently to males and females. The LGBTQIA+ factor is also explored. The findings of this project did not result in males signing a word one way and females another. We saw that both males and females had the same variation. We did have a limited sample size and our research was contained within California. Had we conducted a nationwide study perhaps we would have seen a more clear variation between males and females. The variations we did see could depend on other factors such as regional difference or even style of signing. While we did see variations in signing they were not due to gendered differences since both males and females signed the same variation of the word. MacDougal, D. E., CI, & CT. (2012). Gendered Discourse and ASL-to-English Interpreting: A Poststructuralist Approach to Gendered Discourse and the ASL-to-English Interpretive Process. Journal of Interpretation,19(1), 1-38. Retrieved December 3, 2018, from https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi. Duranti, A. (2004). A companion to linguistic anthropology. Oxford: Blackwell.

In 2010, Johnston and Schembri researched different variations that can be found in multiple signed languages. Their study primarily analyzed three main languages: American sign language, Australian sign language, and New Zealand sign language. The authors set out find why variation in sign language occur and what influences them. The results were that these variations are based on social factors such as gender, age, region, etc. The authors also look at stylistic difference...s that occur between casual and business conversations. They concluded that variation is not just random but has been conditioned and reinforced by social interactions. Although our group mainly focused on gender and American Sign Language in our interviews, we were able to see how age and region created variations in specific signs. However, our small, clustered sample size is not enough to be significant. A random and bigger population sample size throughout California would be needed for further research on gender variations. Johnston, T. & Schembri, A. (2010). Variation, lexicalization and grammaticalization in signed languages. Langage et Société, 131,(1), 19-35. See more

Hello! To follow up on the ASL to English language continuum, I thought a visual example would be helpful. This is a video that shows ASL (a language) and SEE (a mode of communication) side by side. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvqZ83pS0B4

If you want to learn more about variations in signed languages, check out this page on the Handspeak website! https://www.handspeak.com/learn/index.php?id=111

Over the course of 7 year, the National Science foundation funded serious research done by teams in 7 different states in order to analyze the sociolinguistic variations in American Sign Language. There also numerous graduate students at Gallaudet University that helped the research process. Through this study, the researchers found that variations could be found because of many different factors from economic status to ethnicity, and even gender. It was found that the main d...ivider between variation was usually age because of new vernacular used in younger generations. This research that was done was used as a base for our own research. Our research had a smaller sample size which did not necessarily account for all the variations that could be found with a larger sample size such as in the 7-year study,. The original study also used numerous factors to analyze their data, while our group only focused on gender. If we had used age like the other research group, I believe we would have found more variation since there was not a lot of variation found in our research. The research also noted the difference between native signers and people who had learned later on in life. It found that native signers tended to use less iconic signs and more arbitrary signs. I think this would have been another great topic to research in order to get a more holistic view of the variations. Although we did not focus on this, there was an obvious distinction between arbitrary and iconic signs in the different variations presented. Overall, I think this information would be useful to use to analyze more variations throughout the state of California. Lucas, C., Valli, C., & Bayley, R. (2012). Sociolinguistic Variation in American Sign Language (Sociolinguistics in deaf communities series; v. 7). Washington, D.C.: Gallaudet University Press. See more

In 2015, James Corey Blount conducted novel research in Mississippi to analyze phonological and lexical variations of ASL. The Mississippi ASL Project: A Sociolinguistic Examination of American Sign Language in Mississippi is the first ASL sociolinguistic study on a state-wide scale. There was only a small incidence of variation found within the state boundaries of Mississippi. The three variations found in the study resulted under the categorizes of region, age, and ethnicit...y, with age difference resulting in the greatest amount of variation. Members of the Mississippi Deaf community were interviewed and recorded to collect data on sign variations. The study hoped to promote more in depth sociolinguistic research for the continued development of Deaf education and interpreter training programs. This study as a base for our project, we interviewed Deaf individuals within the state of California and analyzed the recordings for data on variation by gender. Similarly, there was a small amount of variation among ASL users in California interviewed. However, the small sample size renders the data insignificant. For a more holistic view of ASL variations in California, many more participants from all over the state would be required. Although our project did not focus on age as a factor, it was noticeable that more variation occurred when older and younger signers interacted, just as the 2015 study found. This could be useful for future studies analyzing ASL variations in CA. Blount, J., Burkette, Allison, Coles, Felice, & Warhol, Tamara. (2015). Mississippi ASL Project: A Sociolinguistic Examination of American Sign Language in Mississippi, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

Over the course of the past two months, our group has taken multiple surveys of different Deaf men and women in California. After collecting surveys, we gathered data from 8 women and 8 men. Our original plan was to include LGBTQIA+ if the opportunity arose. However, initial research indicated that sexuality had no significant effect on sign production, thus we decided to shift our focus to gender variation. In ASL there are 5 main parameters: handshape, palm orientation, mo...vement, mouth morpheme, and location. All of these can be used to analyze the linguistic feature of a sign. Our Survey consisted of the following signs: DRIVE AROUND, PREGNANT, PHONE CALL, WALK, INTERESTING, CUTE, CAT, BIRTHDAY When analyzing the data of the variations in signs, we decided to focus on the difference in handshape. Through this analysis we were able to find which signs were most prevalent in men and women. Each of us filmed videos in order to demonstrate the difference in variations while allowing the people who we surveyed to be anonymous.

The existence of a time sensitive language acquisition period, according to Hall, can permanently alter the brain of a Deaf child when spoken language is not fully accessible . . . and sign language exposure is delayed, as is often standard practice (Hall). This has further implications for learning, social relationships, education, employment, and so forth. It is important to expose deaf children to ASL during this critical learning period to build a solid language foundat...ion. This will enable easier access to fluency in ASL, defined as bilingual Deaf adults who easily navigate between using English and ASL on a daily basis, (Wanis). The chart attached is from a publication by Doug Stringham on the Comparative American Sign Language/English Continuum(2011). This continuum has two languages at each end ASL and English, and systems of communication in between. It is crucial to emphasize that SE, PSE, SEE 1, SEE 2, LOVE, Rochester Method, and Cued Speech are not languages but modes of communication. ASL has features of a language such as symbols, which may be arbitrary or iconic. ASL is more arbitrary (the symbol does not inherently reflect it’s meaning) than iconic (the symbol bears a visual similarity between the sign and the meaning it represents). For example, onlookers who do not know ASL would be unable to understand an ASL conversation between two signing individuals by looking at the shapes or movements without any linguistic knowledge. ASL also has variations, which can result from geographic, ethnic, gender, age, or other differing factors within the language using community. Our project analyzes ASL variations among Deaf individuals in regards to gender. Hall, W. C. (2017). What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: The Risk of Language Deprivation by Impairing Sign Language Development in Deaf Children. Maternal and Child Health Journal,21(5), 961-965. doi:10.1007/s10995-017-2287-y Wanis, R. (2018). The ASL Dysfluency to Fluency Continuum[ppt].

Before we dive into the details about gender differences in ASL it is important to understand that American Sign Language is not universal. Just like spoken languages around the world each nation has their own respective signed language. In the pictures below the top picture shows the Japanese sign for friend. The image on the bottom shows the sign for friend in ASL. As you can see these signs are different illustrating that different countries have different sign languages. I have also attached a link to a video on youtube showing the differences between Brazilian sign language and ASL for further illustration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsLKkumsONg

Hello everybody and thank you for visiting our page. We are a small group of Fresno State students who have conducted research on the gender variations within American Sign Language. We are excited to share what we have learned and educate people about American Sign Language. Our research focuses on gender differences of ASL within California. We will discuss the details of the project more in depth in a later post. *Disclaimer this page was created for educational purposes only Meet the members from right to left Olivia Gartman, Angelica Rocha, Sarah Maricle, and Keyana Washington Each of the members will be posting about their research findings as well as more information about our topic. Thank you so much for viewing our page