American Sign Language Linguistics

Catalog description

This course is designed to introduce students to the main structural features of American Sign Language (ASL) such as phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. The linguistics of ASL and spoken languages will be compared. Additional topics will include the definitions of language and linguistics, variation and historical change, discourse, bilingualism and language contact, and language as art. Research articles pertaining to ASL and other signed languages in the world will be read and criticized. This course is designed for the students who are already proficient in ASL.