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ASL416ASLLinguisticsinASL
LinguisticsDept. Wednesdays,1:15p.m.-3:45p.m.Spring2020 LB502
Instructor:Dr.SandraK.Wood Office:Science Building; Rm 310; A wing
Portland Campus Dept. phone: 740-4582 StudentWalk-inHours:
Tues/Thurs 2-3 p.m. or by appointment or just stop by and see if
I’m in!
JE-mail:[email protected]*Iamusuallyquitepromptinrespondingtoyouremail,exceptonweekends.Expectapossibledelayifyousendmeemailduringtheweekend.However,
If you do not receive a reply within 72 hours during the weekday,
please contact Dr. Dana McDaniel at [email protected] for any
questions you may need assistance with. Pronouns I go by:
she/her/hers and they/their/theirs In this classroom, we will
respect and refer to people using the names and personal pronouns
that they share with us, i.e. in written English, as pronouns are
gender-neutral in ASL. Required materials
Book-SignLanguages:StructuresandContexts,Hill,Lillo-Martin,andWood(2019).RoutledgeGuidestoLinguistics,TaylorandFrancisGroup.Recommended(butnotrequired):Book-TheLinguisticsofSignLanguages:AnIntroduction,Bakeretal(2016)JohnBenjaminsPublishing.Website:https://benjamins.com/sites/z.199/Schedule:
1/22; Syllabus and Introduction 1/29; Lexicon (ch. 8, Baker et al.)
2/5; Phonetics & Phonology (ch. 2 Hill et al., and ch. 10-11
Baker et al.) 2/12; Phonetics & Phonology con’t 2/19;
Psycholinguistics (ch. 2, Baker et al.) 2/26; Acquisition- (ch. 5
& 6, Hill et al.) 3/4; Acquisition con’t 3/11 Constituents and
Word Classes Spring Break! J 3/16-20 3/25; Syntax (ch. 4, Hill et
al. and ch. 6 & 7, Baker et al.) 4/1; Syntax con’t 4/8;
Morphology (ch. 3, Hill et al.) 4/15; Homesign systems (ch. 7, Hill
et al.) 4/22; Variation in ASL; other dialects of ASL (ch. 8 &
9, Hill et al.) 4/29; Black ASL, Protactile ASL, Other countries
Final Presentation, May 6, 1:30-3:30, LB 502
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Chapter Assignments- All do ‘Test Yourself’ questions which will
be posted on BB each week under Assignments- Some will require
written answers and some will require signed answers. Those that
are signed will be posted to GoReact. Written assignments will be
graded on the answers and grammatical English is expected/graded.
Signed assignments likewise will be graded on the answers and
academic ASL is expected/graded. 15% of the grade. Team
Presentations- all in ASL and must use academic ASL. Questions for
the teams will be posted on BB under Team Presentations in
Assignments. Sample powerpoints are on BB. 30% of the grade 2/5 Sam
and Jillian 2/19 Maryhelen and Anita 3/4 Dan and Nikita 3/25
Allison and Isaac 4/1 Sam and Dan 4/8 Jillian and Allison 4/15
Nikita and Maryhelen 4/29 Anita and Isaac Article assignments-
Everyone will read each article by due date and answer the first
two questions (participation). Teams will be assigned an article to
read, answer all of the questions, and discuss with the others in
class. Articles and corresponding questions are posted on BB. 15%
of the grade (including answers and discussion). (articles are
tentative until 1/29) 2/12 Dan and Isaac Hall et al. (2012)
Phonological similarity judgements in ASL 3/11 Jillian and
Maryhelen Kegl et a. (1996) Case for Grammar, order, and position
in ASL 4/1 Nikita and Anita Wilbur & Patschke (1999) Syntactic
correlates of brow raise in ASL 4/15 Sam and Allison Coppola et al.
(2013) Communicating about quantity without a language model:
Number devices in homesign grammar 5/6 Final Exam 15-20 minute
powerpoint Individual Presentations analyzing a Deaf child’s or
Deaf L2’s language. Yay! J 35% of grade.
COURSEEVALUATIONParticipation 5HomeworkAssignments 15
A+100-97,A96-93,A-92-90ArticleAssignments 15
B+89-87,B86-83,B-82-80ChapterPresentations 30
C+79-77,C76-73,C-72-70FinalProject/Presentation 35
D+69-67,D66-63,D-62-60 Total100 F59-0
Uponcompletionofthecourse,eachstudentshouldbeableto:1.Describeandidentifyfundamentalareasoflinguisticinquiry-phonology,morphology,syntax,semantics,discourse,andsociolinguistics;identifythebasiccharacteristicsofanylanguage,spokenorsigned.2.Discussandcritiquecommonly-heldassumptionsaboutlanguages,signedlanguages,andlanguagelearninginculturally-sensitiveways.
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3.ExplainthelinguisticevidencesupportingtheideathatASL(awellasothersignedlanguages)isanaturalhumanlanguage,butothersignsystems(e.g.SEEorCuedSpeech)arenot.4.Describevarioussignedlanguagedialectsandregistersusedbydeafchildrenandadults,includinghistoricalandsociolinguisticvariation.5.Explainthefactorsthatareinvolvedinlanguagelearningathome,inclassrooms,andinschoolprograms.6.DemonstrateincreasedproficiencyintheuseofacademicASLutilizingaformalregisterwithgrammaticallycomplexstructuresaccompaniedbycorrectuseofspace,NMS,andlexicon.Tosuccessfullypassthisclass,thefollowingareexpectedandnecessary:
●Cometoclass,comepreparedandpayattention!(classispresentedinASL)
●
Keepupwiththecoursework◊(therewillbeLOTSofreadings,reflections,andanalysisofASL)
● Doyourassignmentsandturntheminontime●
Doyourworkwellwithaclearanalysisofthematerial/readingandconsiderationofthe
factorsinvolved.Indicatehowthe“dots”areconnected.●
Bepreparedforyourexamandindicateyourunderstandingofthetopicswe’vecovered
duringthesemester.UniversityandDept.policiesDiversityTheLinguisticsDept.definesdiversityasitimpactsteachingandlearningas“differences,orvariety,amonggroupsofpeoplebasedonarangeandcombinationofbackgroundsandhistoriesrelatedtoethnicity,race,gender,language,socioeconomicstatus,sexualorientation,disability,geographicalarea,religiousbackground,andexceptionalitiesinlearning.”Thedepartmentiscommittedtoaddressingdiversityincurriculum,instruction,assessment,andinterpersonalrelations.StudentsatUniversityofSouthernMainecomefromavarietyofbackgroundsandhistoriesrelatedtoethnicity,race,gender,language,socioeconomicstatus,sexualorientation,disability,geographicalarea,religiousbackground,andexceptionalitiesinlearning.Youareexpectedtoberespectfulandpolitetowardseveryoneintheroom,regardlessofindividualdifferences.Non-DiscriminationPolicyTheUniversityofMaineSystemdoesnotdiscriminateonthegroundsofrace,color,religion,sex,sexualorientation,includingtransgenderstatusandgenderexpression,nationalorigin,citizenshipstatus,age,disability,geneticinformationorveteran’sstatusinemployment,education,andallotherprogramsandactivities.PleasecontactLyndaDec,CHRO&AffirmativeAction,EqualOpportunity,andTitleIXsupportforUSM45ExeterStreet,Portland,ME,207.262.7911,Email:lynda.dec@maine.eduwithquestionsorconcerns.Toreportanincidentoccurringwithinanacademiccontext,contacttheDeanofStudents.Toreportotheron-campusincidences,contacttheCoordinatorofStudentConductAndrewMcLeanatusmdeanofstudents@maine.eduand(207)780-4035.Gender-BasedDiscrimination,Harassment,orViolence(TitleIX)TheUniversityofSouthernMaineiscommittedtomakingourcampusessaferplacesforstudents.Becauseofthiscommitment,andourfederalobligations,facultyandotheremployeesare
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consideredmandatedreporterswhenitcomestoexperiencesofinterpersonalviolence(sexualassault,sexualharassment,datingordomesticviolence,andstalking).DisclosuresofinterpersonalviolencemustbepassedalongtotheUniversity’sDeputyTitleIXCoordinatorwhocanhelpprovidesupportandacademicremediesforstudentswhohavebeenimpacted.Moreinformationcanbefoundonlineathttp://usm.maine.edu/campus-safety-projectorbycontactingSarahE.Holmesatsarah.e.holmes1@maine.eduor207-780-5767.Ifstudentswanttospeakwithsomeoneconfidentially,thefollowingresourcesareavailableonandoffcampus:UniversityCounselingServices(207-780-4050);24HourSexualAssaultHotline(1-800-871-7741);24HourDomesticViolenceHotline(1-866-834-4357).
AcademicSupportandAccessibilityforStudentsUniversityofSouthernMaine,inaccordancewiththeAmericanswithDisabilitiesActAmendmentsActof2008(ADAAA)andtheFederalRehabilitationActof1973/Section504,willprovidereasonableaccommodationsforeligiblestudentswithdisabilities.IfyouhavealreadyreceivedafacultyaccommodationletterfromtheDisabilityServicesCenter,pleaseprovidemewiththatinformationassoonaspossible.Pleasemakeaprivateappointmentsothatwecanreviewyouraccommodations.Ifyourequirespecialassistance,pleaseseemeprivatelyand/orseekassistancedirectlyfromtheDisabilityServicesCenter(DSC).YouareresponsibleforinitiatingarrangementsforaccommodationsfortestsandotherassignmentsincollaborationwiththeDSCOfficeandme.StudentswhoneedspecificaccommodationsshouldcontacttheDSC(DisabilityServicesCenter)office:[email protected];207-780-4706;LutherBonneyHall.***AbsenceforReligiousHolyDays:TheUniversityofSouthernMainerespectsthereligiousbeliefsofallmembersofthecommunity,affirmstheirrightstoobservesignificantreligiousholydays,andwillmakereasonableaccommodations,uponrequest,forsuchobservances.Ifastudent’sreligiousobservanceisinconflictwiththeacademicexperience,theyshouldinformtheirinstructor(s)oftheclassorotherschoolfunctionsthatwillbeaffected.Itisthestudent’sresponsibilitytomakethenecessaryarrangementsmutuallyagreeduponwiththeinstructor(s).
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ASL 416 Instructor: Sandra K. Wood Spring 2020 Expanded Syllabus
Coursepurpose:ThiscourseisanintroductiontothelinguisticstructureofAmericanSignLanguage.Anoverviewofphonology,morphology,syntax,sociolinguistics,andacquisitionofASL,alongwithdiscussionofothersignedlanguagesandhomesignedsystems,willbethebasisforourstudyduringthesemester.
CourseRequirements:*Ireservetherighttochangeormodifyassignmentsandtheweightingofthefollowingrequirementsforthefinalclassgrade.(1)AttendanceandParticipationParticipationiscrucialinthiscourse.Thequalityoftheclassdependsonyouractiveparticipationinthediscussion.Youshouldcomepreparedtotalkaboutthereadingsassignedforeachday.Ifyouareabsentfromclassesfrequently,thismeansyoucannotactivelyparticipate.Idonoteyourlevelofparticipationinclassandconsiderthatinthegradeforparticipation.Attendance:SinceASLisnotawrittenlanguage,IwillbediscussingmanyexamplesinASLdailyinclassthatcannotbelearnedfromstudyingabook.So,itwillbedifficulttomakeupmaterialifyoumissevenoneclass.Youshouldmakeeveryefforttoattendallclasssessions.Ifyouareabsent,youwillstillbeheldresponsibleforthematerialyoumiss.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcernsthatyouwanttodiscuss,pleasedosobeforeorafterclassorduringmyofficehoursorwheneverI’mintheoffice.MydoorisalwaysopenwhenIamintheoffice.Asalways,youcanalsosendanemailmessagetome.**Youareresponsibleforofficiallywithdrawingfromordroppingtheclass.Thedeadlinetodropwitha'W'onyourrecordisMarch26,2020.(2)Homework.Iwillassignhomeworkforeachsectionofourtopicsfromeachchapterwhichwillbefoundinthebackofthechapter-“TestYourself”.Theduedatesarepostedintheschedule.There*may*beadditionalhomeworkassignedfromourclass-discussions.Somemaybein-classhomeworkandotherswillbetake-home.SomemayinvolvewatchingavideoofASLsignsandanalyzingthemaccordingtowhatwe’velearnedinclass.Somemayinvolveyougatheringdataoranalyzingthembasedonwhatyoualreadyknowandapplyingwhatyou’velearned(fromobservationoryourreadings).(3)Presentations.Youwillbepairedwithafellowclassmatewithwhomyou’llworkonquestions(whichwillbeprovided)onanassignedchapteranddevelopapowerpointpresentationdiscussingthesequestionsandtheanswers.Youmustalsoincludeoneortworeallywell-thoughtoutquestionsofyourowninthepresentationaswell.Thepresentationtypicallytakesabout30-45minutesandinvolveslotsofengageddialoguewithsupportfromme.Youwillbegradedontheanswersforthesequestionsandyourpresentation,includingyouruseofacademicASL.
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(4)ArticleAssignment:IwillprovidefourarticleswhicharepostedonBlackboardforeveryonetoread.Youwillbepairedwithaclassmateononearticle,whichyouwillread,answerthecorrespondingquestionsprovided,anddiscusswithyourclassmates.Everyonehastoreadthearticleandanswerthefirsttwoquestionswhichwillcounttowardsyourgradeforparticipation.Theassignedteamwillberequiredtoanswerallofthequestions.Thegradewillincludeyouranswersforthequestionsandhowwellyouledthediscussionwithyourclassmates.ThereisarubriconBB,whichwillincludeassessmentofyourASLsignancy.5)FinalProject:LanguageAnalysisandPresentation.Youhavethreechoices:1.)YouaskanativeDeafASLspeakertosignastory(fromabook,movie,orcartoon,etc..)andrecordthemtellingthestory.2.)YouwatchavideoofaDeafchildages2-4talkingaboutacertaintopic.3.)YouwatchavideoofaDeafadultwhohasacquiredASLlate,eitherasalateL1orL2..Then,youprovideananalysisoftheirASL.Thatis,youranalysiswillpickout12distinctaspectsoftheirsigningthatshowsevidenceofsomeaspectofASLphonology,morphology,syntax,orsemantics/pragmatics/discourse.For(2),youmaynoticesomeerrorsintheiracquisition,whicharepredictedfromwhatweknow,andshouldbehighlighted/discussedinyourpresentation.Seethislinkhttp://theweek.com/article/index/254542/9-reasons-we-adore-this-little-girls-sign-language-version-of-twas-the-night-before-christmasforanexampleofhowtoanalyzesnippetsofthechildoradult’ssigning.Youshouldhaveshortvideoclipsandananalysisofthatvideoclipineachsegment..For(2),Iwillassignavideo(fortheDeafchildvideo)toyouforanalysisbutyoumaydoavideoofadifferentchildifapprovalisobtainedfrommepriortotheprojectandpresentation.For(3),youwillberesponsibleforfindingthesubjectofstudyandobtainingapprovalfrommebeforeproceeding.Finally,youwillpresentyouranalysisalongwiththevideoduringtheFinalExamina15-20-minutepresentation.TheunderlyingfocusistounderstandmoreaboutthecomplexityandstructureofASLpresentedinthevideo.Yourunderstandingofwhatwe’velearnedthissemestershouldbeevidentinyouranalysisandpresentation.ArubricforthepresentationwillbepostedonBB,whichwillincludeyouruseofacademicASL.Also,asamplepresentationwillbepostedonBBforyoutofollowasapossiblemodel.StudentResponsibilitiesThissyllabuscontainsinformation,policies,andproceduresforthiscourse,ASL416..Byenrolling,thestudentagreestoread,understand,andabidebythepolicies,rules,regulationsandethicalstandardsoftheuniversityascontainedinthecurrentuniversitycatalogandscheduleofclasses.
1. Beforeourmeetings,studentsshould:
-Thoroughlyread,studyandthink/writeabouttheassignedchapter(s)orarticlespostedontheBB,ifgiven,andbringquestions/commentstothemeetings.
-Knowtheissueswellenoughthatyoucangiveasummary,ifyouarecalledupontodoso.
-Decidewhatarethemostimportantaspectsofthematerialinthechapterandthinkaboutotherexamplesorcounterexamplesofthematerialtodiscussinclass.
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2.Studentsshould:
-Participateinsmallgroupdiscussionthroughoutthesemester.Occasionallytheprofessor
maylectureonspecialtopicsnotincludedinthebook/readings.
-Besuretoalwayshaveblanknotebooksandpensorpencilswhenyoucometo
classtoparticipateingroupdiscussionorguestspeakerlectures.
-Alwaysbringyourtextbookandarticleandbereadyfordiscussion.
3.ForBB,studentsshould:
-ChecktheBBfrequently.
-Checkforyourgrade.Ifthereisnogradetwoweeksaftertheassignmenthasbeenturnedin,youneedtolettheprofessorknow.Otherwise,youwillnotgetanypointsfortheassignmentyoumayormaynothavedone.
CourseExpectationsCellPhonePolicyYourcellphonemustbeonSILENTwhileyouareinmyclass.(Notvibrateorring).Yourcellphonemuststayinyourbagorpurseforthedurationoftheclass.Textmessagingisprohibited.Research(hereatUSM!)hasnowshownthatifacellphoneisevenmerelypresentnearby,itcanresultinadeficitincognitiveprocessinghttp://www.medicaldaily.com/out-sight-out-mind-cell-phones-may-diminish-cognitive-ability-even-without-use-313590Violationsofthispolicycanresultinremovalfromclassforthedayandbecountedasaclassabsence.**Pleasesilenceyourphoneandputinyourbag/purse*before*classbegins.Ifthereisanemergencysituationwhereyouareexpectingatextorcall,notifytheinstructoruponenteringtheclassandaskpermissiontoleavetheclasswhenthemessagecomesthrough.ClasssessionsarealwaysconductedinASL.Therearetimeswhenthestudentandtheinstructormaynotalwaysunderstandeachotherthefirsttimetheinformationispresented.Studentsarestronglyencouragedtobepatientinfiguringoutgeneralideasandmakeguessesthroughouttheclass.Ifaconceptorsignisnotunderstoodafter3or4repetitions,thecandidateshouldhelphim/herselfbyapproachingtheinstructorafterclasstodiscussquestions.AllconversationsintheclassroommustbeinASL.Remember:AnystudentwhocontinuestousespokenEnglishinclassafterbeingremindedtouseASLwillbeaskedtoleavetheclassfortheday.Make-up/LatesubmissionsItisimportantthatyouturninyourassignmentsontime.Itisimperativethatyoucheckyourclassschedule.Iftheassignmentisturnedinafter11:59p.m.onthe2ndday,adeductionof10%willbeappliedtothegrade.Afterthat,noassignmentswillbeaccepted,andyouwillreceivezeropoints.Allexaminations,assignments,andpresentationswillbedueasindicatedonthecourseoutlineorasnotedbytheprofessor.Make-upexaminationsandpresentationsareregardedasaninconvenienceandasunfairtostudentswhocompletetheassignmentsand/orexamsonassignedduedates.Anyonefailingtonotifytheprofessorofanabsencepriortoexaminations,submissionofassignments,orpresentationswillnotbeexcusedand0pointsmaynotbeawarded.
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AcademicHonestyAllofyourworkisexpectedtobeyourown.YouareexpectedtoadheretotheUniversityofSouthernMainehonorcode.AnyviolationoftheHonorCodeasoutlinedintheStudentHandbookwillbereportedandbegroundsfordisciplinaryaction.Prohibitedbehaviorincludesbutisnotlimitedto:copyingfromothers;usingnotesorwhisperingduringquizzesandexams;fabricationofinformation;submissionofworkpreparedforotherclasses;permittingothercandidatestocopyfromorotherwiseuseyourwork;andcopying/pastingfromtheinternetforhomeworkorpapers,amongothersnotmentionedhere.PlagiarismisaseriousissueandwetakeitveryseriouslyhereatUniversityofSouthernMaine.Ifanyofyourwrittenworkisfoundtocontaininstance(s)ofplagiarism,theassignmentwillbegivena‘0’andmaybereportedtotheDeanofStudents.Pleasecheckwithmeifyouhaveanydoubtsaboutwhetheryou’vecitedaworkcorrectlyinyourvideoorpaperBEFOREitisdue!YoumayalsogototheTutoringCenter,PortlandLearningCommons(2ndFloor,GlickmanLibrary),(207)780-4228orGorhamLearningCommons(1stFloor,BaileyHallLibrary,(207)780-5345(http://usm.maine.libguides.com/writing)forassistanceinwritingyourpaperandcheckingyourcitations.Plagiarismandcheatingwillresultintheoneormoreofthefollowingconsequences,attheinstructor’sdiscretion:Gradeof“0”fortheassignedworkReductionoffinalgradebyonelettergradeEvidenceofaviolationoftheacademicintegritypolicywillnormallyresultindisciplinaryaction.AcopyofthecompletepolicymaybeobtainedfromtheDeanofStudentsOffice,onlineathttps://usm.maine.edu/deanofstudents/student-academic-integrity-policy-0orbycallingandrequestingacopyat(207)780-5242.OtherResourcesforStudentsLearningCommonsandTutoringTutoringservicesincludewriting,criticalreading,academiccoaching,studyskillsandtimemanagement.Walk-intutoringisavailableattheGlickmanLibraryinPortland,theGorhamLibrary,andtheLACWritingCenter.Forbestservice,werecommendmakinganappointmentathttps://usm.maine.edu/learningcommons/schedule-tutoring-appointment.QuestionsabouttutoringshouldbedirectedtoPaulDexterat207-780-5577.CounselingTherearealwaystimeswhenstressorexternalfactorsmakeusfeeloverwhelmed,panicky,ordepressed.Ifyouneedsomeonetotalkto,counselingisavailableatUSM.Thebestwaytoscheduleanappointmentistoemailusm.health@maine.edu.Moreinformationisavailableathttps://usm.maine.edu/uhcs.InclementWeather
FromtimetotimeUSMwillclosetheUniversityduetoinclementweather.Pleaserefertohttps://usm.maine.edu/finance/weather-delays-and-cancellations-0forinformationregardingtheprotocolforweatherdelaysandcancellations.Whenthecancellationisforanentireday,theclasscontentwillbemadeupatanothertimeorthroughadditional,outsideofclassassignments.TheinstructorwillcontactyouviaBBand/oremailtonotifyyouofanyadditionalassignmentsorvideostowatchduringthesecancellations.
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Whentheschoolopenslateorclosesearly,andthetimeselectedisduringthemiddleofclass,wewillstillholdtheclassunlessyouareotherwisenotifiedbyme.
Iftheinstructorcancelstheclassduetoillnessorinclementweather(notformalizedbytheUniversity),youwillbenotifiedviaBBand/oremail.IfanyhomeworkisdueonBBorGoReactwhenthishappens,itstillneedstobesubmitted.Ifanyhomeworkisdueinclasswhentheinstructorcancelsclass,thehomeworkshouldbesubmittedinclassthenexttimeitisheld.DRAFT
