American Sign Language and the Universal Model of the Syllable
Date
1997
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Swarthmore College. Dept. of Linguistics
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Thesis (B.A.)
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Abstract
In spoken language, speech is divided into syllables. There are certain segments
which are believed to be part of the universal syllable, and traits which go along with each
of these segments. Is it possible that these universals hold for signed language as well?
2
In this paper, I will propose a model of the ASL syllable which follows this
universal requirement of the syllable. There are existing models of the ASL syllable which
either do not strictly follow the universal model of the syllable, or they ignore some of the
distinguishing features of signing. For example, a model will be discussed later in which
the behavior of the nondominant hand is not included in the syllable model. Is the
nondominant hand not considered to be part of the ASL syllable even though it sometimes
licenses distinguishing information of the sign? I will show not only how the nondominant
hand's behavior is part of the syllable, but also, how the nondominant hand's behavior can
be considered to be the coda of the signed syllable.