Expanding the BalloonExpanding the BalloonASL Expansion TechniquesASL Expansion Techniques

Brenda AronBrenda AronSeattle Central Community CollegeSeattle Central Community College

Adapted from “Expansion & Adapted from “Expansion & Compression Techniques” Compression Techniques”

by Lynn Finton and Richard Smithby Lynn Finton and Richard SmithNTID/RITNTID/RIT

Workshop ProtocolsWorkshop Protocols

If you have a question, please save it for the If you have a question, please save it for the Question board, use a post-it note given, Question board, use a post-it note given, write your question and tack it up on the write your question and tack it up on the freestanding easel. freestanding easel.

We will answer your questions after the We will answer your questions after the lecture. lecture.

Expansion in ASLExpansion in ASL Expansion or contextualizing in ASL refers to the Expansion or contextualizing in ASL refers to the

amount of detail or information conveyed to:amount of detail or information conveyed to: Clarify a topic,Clarify a topic, Expand an idea, orExpand an idea, or Provide illustration of a pointProvide illustration of a point

The discourse style of ASL uses frequent The discourse style of ASL uses frequent expansion, andexpansion, and

It’s this process, which makes ASL visually It’s this process, which makes ASL visually dynamic and interesting. dynamic and interesting.

ASL users typically share common experience and ASL users typically share common experience and world view, the level of detail is often what makes world view, the level of detail is often what makes a story, discussion, or lecture different or unique.a story, discussion, or lecture different or unique.

Expansion Strategies Expansion Strategies The following are seven (7) strategies that The following are seven (7) strategies that

have been identified as part of the have been identified as part of the expansion process:expansion process:1. Contrasting1. Contrasting2. Faceting2. Faceting3. Reiteration3. Reiteration4. Utilizing 3D Space4. Utilizing 3D Space5. Explaining by Example5. Explaining by Example6. Couching or Scaffolding6. Couching or Scaffolding7. Describe then Do7. Describe then Do

1. Contrasting1. Contrasting

Highlights one idea by juxtaposing two opposite Highlights one idea by juxtaposing two opposite ideas in order to emphasize the one. ideas in order to emphasize the one.

This is usually by stating the positive, then the This is usually by stating the positive, then the negative or the reverse occurs. negative or the reverse occurs.

Sometimes it is sandwiched in between.Sometimes it is sandwiched in between. Contrasts are often marked with a negative form: Contrasts are often marked with a negative form:

“NOT”, “NO”, “CAN’T”, “NONE”“NOT”, “NO”, “CAN’T”, “NONE”– Example A: “(It’s) HOT, NOT WARM, HOT!” Example A: “(It’s) HOT, NOT WARM, HOT!” – Example B: “DESERT DRY, MOISTURE NONE, DRY!”Example B: “DESERT DRY, MOISTURE NONE, DRY!”

“BALLOONS FEW, NO, MANY BALLOONS!”

“GLACIER WATER, COLD, WARM NO, VERY-COLD, BRRR!”

Contrast the following:Contrast the following:

1.1. I could barely stay awake during the I could barely stay awake during the teacher’s lecture.teacher’s lecture.

2.2. Mary is so humble.Mary is so humble.

3.3. The mansion is huge. The mansion is huge.

2. Faceting2. Faceting

Describes a feature where several different signs Describes a feature where several different signs are signed sequentially to express one idea more are signed sequentially to express one idea more clearly. Although several signs are used, this clearly. Although several signs are used, this feature actually narrows a concept to a more exact feature actually narrows a concept to a more exact or specific image. or specific image.

Usually used with adjectives or adverbs. Usually used with adjectives or adverbs. This guides the viewer in a particular direction: This guides the viewer in a particular direction: EX: “burned out= “FED-UP // WORN-OUT // GIVE-EX: “burned out= “FED-UP // WORN-OUT // GIVE-

UP” UP”

“HOT AIR BALLOON, MANY COLORS// BRIGHT// COLORFUL , WOW!”

“COLORFUL”

UNIQUE/ UNUSUAL

“CHIHULY GLASS, ODD// DIFFERENT// OUT-THERE// SPECIAL”

Facet the following:Facet the following:

1.1. My son is so mule-headed.My son is so mule-headed.

2.2. The presenter is so animated.The presenter is so animated.

3.3. The public bathroom was refreshingly The public bathroom was refreshingly clean. clean.

4.4. The sea was brilliantly blue. The sea was brilliantly blue.

3. Reiteration3. Reiteration

Refers to signs that are repeated in a text exactly Refers to signs that are repeated in a text exactly the same way as they were initially stated. A sign the same way as they were initially stated. A sign or signs are used again, reiterated, within a or signs are used again, reiterated, within a passage. passage.

This implies emphasis: that something is important This implies emphasis: that something is important to the storyline, has cultural significance, or has to the storyline, has cultural significance, or has high emotional impact to the signer. high emotional impact to the signer.

Ex A: “It was my job”= MY DUTY, NOT WIFE. MY Ex A: “It was my job”= MY DUTY, NOT WIFE. MY DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY.” DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY.”

Ex B: “I waited in a long line forever.” “LONG-Ex B: “I waited in a long line forever.” “LONG-LINE, WAIT+++ LONG-LINE” LINE, WAIT+++ LONG-LINE”

“GROUP EFFORT”

‘GROUP TRY WORK, BRAINSTORM-IDEAS, UNITED, WORK-HARD GROUP TRY”

Reiterate the following:Reiterate the following:

1.1. My snowmobile experience is My snowmobile experience is unforgettable. unforgettable.

2.2. The hotel is swanky.The hotel is swanky.

3.3. Lee is a complainer.Lee is a complainer.

4.4. The restaurant has extremely excellent The restaurant has extremely excellent food. food.

4. Utilizing 3D Space4. Utilizing 3D Space

Space is utilized in setting up nouns, Space is utilized in setting up nouns, pronouns-referential space, proximal pronouns-referential space, proximal relationships- topographical space. relationships- topographical space.

Classifiers are one way this information is Classifiers are one way this information is conveyed. conveyed.

Space can be referential, topographical, by Space can be referential, topographical, by using spatial mapping and/or classifiers.using spatial mapping and/or classifiers.

Utilizing 3D SpaceUtilizing 3D Space

Example: “Across the arid grasslands, as far Example: “Across the arid grasslands, as far as the eye can see, hugging the shadows of as the eye can see, hugging the shadows of the few trees, lay a pride of lions in various the few trees, lay a pride of lions in various stages of sleep and rest.”stages of sleep and rest.”

Picturesque

“Full of waving hands”

Utilize the following in 3D:Utilize the following in 3D:

1.1. A bird sitting on a tree grooming itself when A bird sitting on a tree grooming itself when alerted by sound immediately taking flight. alerted by sound immediately taking flight.

2.2. A 6A 6thth floor apartment dweller accidentally floor apartment dweller accidentally dropped a flowerpot on the pavement and it dropped a flowerpot on the pavement and it shattered into pieces, the flowers lay drooping. shattered into pieces, the flowers lay drooping.

3.3. The beginning skier was waving his ski poles The beginning skier was waving his ski poles wildly as he careened down the slope, his eyes wildly as he careened down the slope, his eyes wide and mouth open as if trying to scream in wide and mouth open as if trying to scream in the cold air. the cold air.

4.4. Plagiarism is flagrant at colleges with lenient Plagiarism is flagrant at colleges with lenient professors. professors.

5. Explaining by Examples5. Explaining by Examples

It is often for nouns and superordinates It is often for nouns and superordinates which are a category of words that group which are a category of words that group concrete objects togetherconcrete objects together

Examples:Examples:– Furniture: chair, table, sofa, lamp etc.Furniture: chair, table, sofa, lamp etc.– Baby clothes: diapers, onesies, bib etc.Baby clothes: diapers, onesies, bib etc.

Tools

Vehicles

Weapons

Explain by Examples the Following:Explain by Examples the Following:

The continentsThe continents Food groupsFood groups FruitsFruits Vaccination for childhood illnesses Vaccination for childhood illnesses Etc.Etc.

6. Couching or Scaffolding6. Couching or Scaffolding

A series of signs are grouped together to form a A series of signs are grouped together to form a concept. This adds background or contextual concept. This adds background or contextual information to a concept to make it clear. information to a concept to make it clear.

““Defining an object or phenomenon by description, Defining an object or phenomenon by description, analogy, or function instead of “by label” (Smith analogy, or function instead of “by label” (Smith 1996)1996)

It may include 3D space, explaining by example, It may include 3D space, explaining by example, contrasting or by simply explaining the concept. contrasting or by simply explaining the concept.

An introductory “set-up” is needed to ensure the An introductory “set-up” is needed to ensure the listener has a shared schema or frame to listener has a shared schema or frame to understand the upcoming discourse. understand the upcoming discourse.

Couching/Scaffolding ExampleCouching/Scaffolding Example

EX: Sewer pipes: “KNOW TOILET FLUSH EX: Sewer pipes: “KNOW TOILET FLUSH ECL: water-drain-through pipe CC big sewer ECL: water-drain-through pipe CC big sewer pipe ECL: sewage flows.”pipe ECL: sewage flows.”

Endangered Species

Couch or Scaffold the following:Couch or Scaffold the following:

1.1. Primitive culturesPrimitive cultures

2.2. HydroponicsHydroponics

3.3. Gold RushGold Rush

4.4. TechnologicalTechnologicalAdvancesAdvances

7. Describe Then Do7. Describe Then Do

When the signer shifts from a narrative style When the signer shifts from a narrative style of discourse to direct style of discourse or of discourse to direct style of discourse or from narrator to character. from narrator to character.

Example-English: “I called a friend.”Example-English: “I called a friend.” ASL: ‘ME T0-CALL FRIEND ICL: “pick-up- ASL: ‘ME T0-CALL FRIEND ICL: “pick-up-

phone-put-on-TTY.” phone-put-on-TTY.”

Soccer Game

Describe then Do the Following:Describe then Do the Following:

1.1. I placed my call with VRS.I placed my call with VRS.

2.2. He showed up after I left. He showed up after I left.

3.3. We biked from opposite ends and had a We biked from opposite ends and had a hand slap when we passed each other. hand slap when we passed each other.

4.4. The car swerved and slammed at the light The car swerved and slammed at the light pole, it fell on a fire hydrant. Water started pole, it fell on a fire hydrant. Water started spurting everywhere while the electric spurting everywhere while the electric wires crackled. wires crackled.

The Lecture Part is OverThe Lecture Part is Over

BREAKBREAK

During the break you will be shown pictures, During the break you will be shown pictures, please preview pictures and think how to please preview pictures and think how to apply all 7 expansion strategies to the apply all 7 expansion strategies to the pictures. pictures.

Feel free to discuss with your friends, Feel free to discuss with your friends, colleagues, or your group the different colleagues, or your group the different strategies you can apply to each picture. strategies you can apply to each picture.

After the break, we will have a fun activity to After the break, we will have a fun activity to apply those concepts. apply those concepts.

A Fun ActivityA Fun Activity There will be seven groups lined up and each There will be seven groups lined up and each

person assigned a number.person assigned a number. A picture will be shown overhead, the first person A picture will be shown overhead, the first person

in the line from each group will have opportunity to in the line from each group will have opportunity to look at the picture then select one expansion look at the picture then select one expansion strategy and sign it to apply to the picture. strategy and sign it to apply to the picture.

However, the next person to sign will need to However, the next person to sign will need to choose another strategy if that strategy is already choose another strategy if that strategy is already taken and so on for the person in the next group. taken and so on for the person in the next group.

“Mass of Office Workers”

Beach Volleyball

Fantasy

The African Sahara

Skateboarder

Animation/Ribbon Dancer

The Great Wall of China

“It’s a Dog’s Life!”

Landlocked Lake

Party goers onNew Year’s Eve

Prayer

FiniFini

Contact Information:Brenda Aron: Baron@sccd.ctc.edu