Understanding Basic Classifiers (CL)

ASL has a fairly large set of signs that are called classifiers.  Linguists have found that there are at least two types of classifiers: 

Classifiers that represent Nouns (Pronominal CL) (ProCL) (Whole Entity CL)

Some classifiers are like pronouns in that they stand in for a particular group of nouns.  For example, the ASL classifier that we gloss (write) as CL:3 as a car, bus, van, boat or submarine, but not a person, animal or plant.   These signs are called classifiers because they stand for a particular group or "class" of nouns.  Like pronouns, these classifiers generally cannot be used in a sentence until the signer shows what the classifier stands for (i.e.  MY SISTER'S CAR).  This is usually done by signing or fingerspelling the noun and then using the classifier handshape to represent that noun.  For example, the signer might sign #CAR RED and then use the CL:3 in a particular location.

Whole Entity Classifiers can show Locational Relationships

Classifiers can show the spatial relationship between different people and things.  For example, by showing the red car with the classifier 'on the left', and an orange car is 'on the right'.  You can show those two cars traveling down the freeway next to each other.  

Classifiers can function as Verbs and Adverbs (Semantic Classifiers)

By having the CL:3 on the right hand (the orange car) move and hit the CL:3 on the left hand (the red car), you'll show that the orange car crashed into the red car.  The movement of the classifier on the right hand is "fast" and we see that it hits "hard" (with NMGS facial response "pow").

ProCL (Pronominal) - Some classifiers are like pronouns in which they stand in for a group of a particular group of nouns. Often referred to as Whole Entity Classifiers.

Example: ProCL: 3 " car going downhill", " two cars passing each other".

DCL  (Descriptive) - Descriptive classifer sign used to describe an object or a person. 
              Sometimes referred to as descriptive classifiers, size and shape specifiers (SASS).

                   DCL "curly hair", " DCL "big box"

LCL   Locative classifier sign representing an object in a specific place and sometimes indicating movement.   Handshape is given, followed by spatial or locative information.

                   LCL: B " leaf drifting to the ground"; LCL: 1 "three pens arranged sequentially on a table"

SCL  Semantic classifier sign representing a category of nouns such as a vehicle or person. Handshape is given, followed by information about specific movement.

                  SCL: 1 "person walking stiffly and hurriedly" 

BCL  Body classifier sign in which the body "enacts" the verb of a sentence. Role shifting is usually required.

                  BCL: "acting macho", BCL "putting arms around friend" 

ICL  Instrument classifier sign in which part of the body (usually the hands) manipulates an object. It is often used in conjunction with DCL Size and Shape/ Depth and Width Classifiers.

                  ICL: "driving", ICL "flicking a light switch", ICL "opening the door knob" 

BPCL  Bodypart classifier sign representing a specific part of the body doing the action.

             (2 hands)  BPCL: 1 "crossing legs", (2 hands) BPCL: B "taps foot" 

PCL  Plural classifier sign, indicating either specific number or non-specific number

                 PCL: 3 " people walking", PCL: 4 "long line of people", PCL: 5 "hordes of people" 

ECL  Elemental classifier sign describing things that do not have specific shapes or sizes, and are in constant motion i.e. weather or elements such as water, air, fire and light.

               ECL: wriggly fingers "fire consuming a whole forest"