Q to Show Size and Shape

Classifiers

ASL has a fairly large set of signs that are called classifiers. Classifiers are used for various purposes:

q  To show size and shape

q  To show location

q  To show how objects are moved and manipulated

q  To show the action of subjects

q  To show quantity

q  To show how something happens

q  To show distance, width, height.

1. True Classifiers (CL) are signs in which a particular hand shape, with a particular palmorientation is used to represent a noun and can indicate the location of that noun andactions, if any. True Cls are real signs with all five parameters. Each parameter has itsown meaning:
a. Hand shape - gives information regarding size and shape.
b. Palm Orientation - provides information on locale and angle.
c. Movement - gives the nature of the action (how fast, etc.).
d. Location - gives location and spatial orientation.
e. NMGS - show emphasis for size, action, locale, etc.

2. Descriptive Classifiers (DCL) also known as Size and Shape Specifiers (SASSes) are a special kind of CL that illustrate certain physicalfeatures of a noun as well as indicate its location in space. (i.e., DCL “curly hair”). SASSes give a physicaldescription. SASSes may occasionally be able to show movement.

CLs stand for a particular group or ‘class' of nouns. CLs generally cannot be used in a sentence until the signer indicates which particular referent (e.g. a car) the classifier stands for. This is usually done by signing or fingerspelling the noun and then using the CL that can represent that noun.
Since CLs that function as pronouns usually are made with only one hand, the other hand can also be used to represent another noun. Then the signer can illustrate the relative locations and/or actions of the two referents by positioning the CLs in particular locations in space and then move them around in relation to each other. For example, 2 cars racing, 2 cars crashing into one another, a person getting hit by a car, etc…
ASL is heavily dependant on CLs. If you are not seeing CLs, you are probably seeing a manual code for English and not ASL.