English to ASL: Expansion Practice Sheet:

 

A. Contrasting: highlights one idea by juxtaposing two opposite ideas in order to emphasize the one. This is usually by stating the positive, then the negative or the reverse occurs. Sometimes it is sandwiched between. i.e., “it’s hot, not warm, hot!”

 

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

            2. Mary is so humble.

            3. The cottage is very cozy.

            4. I jumped in the lake, oh boy, the water was cold.

                       

2. Faceting: describes a feature where several different signs are signed sequentially to express one idea more clearly. Although several signs are used, this feature actually narrows a concept to a more exact or specific image. Usually used with adjectives or adverbs. This guides the viewer in a particular direction. i.e., burned-out = FED-UP // WORN-OUT GIVE-UP.

 

            5. My son is so mule-headed.

            6. The presenter was very animated.

            7. The public bathroom was refreshingly clean. 

            8.  The sea was brilliantly blue.

 

3. Reiteration: refers to signs that are repeated in a text exactly the same way as they were initially stated. A sign or signs are used again, reiterated, within a passage. This implies emphasis: that something is important to the storyline, has cultural significance, or has high emotional impact to the signer. i.e., It was my job. = MY DUTY. NOT WIFE. MY DUTY,RESPONSIBILITY; I waited in a long line forever. LONG-LINE WAIT++ LONG LINE.

 

            9. My snowmobile experience was unforgettable.

            10. The hotel is swanky.

            11. Lee is a complainer.

            12. The restaurant has extremely excellent food.

 

4. Utilizing 3D Space: Space is utilized in setting up nouns, pronouns-referential space, proximal relationships-topographical space. Classifiers is one way this information is conveyed. Space can be referential, topographical, by using spatial mapping and/or classifiers. i.e., “Across the arid grasslands, as far as the eye can see, hugging the shadows of the few trees, lay a pride of lions in various stages of sleep and rest.”

 

            13. A bird sitting on a tree grooming itself when alerted by sound

                  immediately taking flight.

            14. An 6th floor apartment dweller accidentally dropped a flowerpot on the

                 pavement and it shattered into pieces, the flowers lay drooping.

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

            16. Plagiarism is flagrant at colleges with lenient professors

 

5. Explaining by Examples: It is often for nouns and superordinates  which are category   

    of words that group concrete objects together ex: furniture, tools, vehicles etc. ex:

    Baby clothes: underpants, socks, pants etc.

 

            17. weapons

            18. the continents

            19. food groups

            20. fruits

            21. vaccination for childhood illnesses

 

6. Couching or scaffolding: a series of signs are grouped together to form a concept. This adds background or contextual information to a concept to make it clear. “Defining an object or phenomenon by description, analogy or function instead of by label” (Smith 1996) It may include 3D space, explaining by example, contrasting or by simply explaining the concept. An introductory “set-up” is needed to ensure the listener has a shared schema or frame to understand the upcoming discourse. i.e, sewer pipes.

KNOW TOILET FLUSH ECL: waste water is carried off “through sewer” CC big sewer pipe ECL: sewage flows”.

 

            22. primitive cultures

            23. hydroponics

            24. Pacific Rim countries

            25. endangered species

            26. technology

 

7. Describe then Do: when the signer shifts from a narrative style of discourse to direct style of discourse or from narrator to character. Ex: I called a friend. ME TO-CALL FRIEND. ICL: “pick-up-phone-put-on-TTY.”

 

            27. I placed my call with VRS.

            28. He showed up after I left.

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

            30. The car swerved and slammed at the light pole, it fell on a fire hydrant. Water

                 started spurting everywhere while the electric wires crackled.