The temporal aspect in American Sign Language (ASL) encompasses various elements that convey the temporal progression of events, such as the use of specific handshapes, movements, and non-manual markers to express time intervals, sequences, and relationships between actions. These elements, including classifiers, suffixes, adverbs, and spatial markers, enable ASL users to indicate the duration, order, and relative position of events within a discourse, providing a comprehensive understanding of temporal information.
Temporal Aspect in ASL
Temporal aspect deals with how verbs indicate time. Here is a look at how temporal aspect works in American Sign Language (ASL).
Types of Temporal Aspect in ASL
- Perfective Aspect: Perfective aspect indicates an action that is completed.
- Imperfective Aspect: Imperfective aspect indicates an action that is ongoing or habitual.
Marking Temporal Aspect in ASL
Temporal aspect is marked by adding morphemes to verbs.
- Perfective Aspect: The perfective morpheme “-ED” is added to the end of the verb.
- Imperfective Aspect: The imperfective morpheme “-ING” is added to the end of the verb.
Example:
- BEAT-ED: means “hit” (perfective)
- BEAT-ING: means “hitting” (imperfective)
Note: Some verbs have suppletive forms for perfective and imperfective aspects.
Temporal Markers in ASL
In addition to morphemes, temporal markers can also be used to indicate aspect.
- Perfective Markers: “FINISH”, “DONE”, “OVER”
- Imperfective Markers: “STILL”, “KEEP”, “ALWAYS”
Example:
- I FINISH EAT-ED.: means “I finished eating.” (perfective)
- I STILL EAT-ING.: means “I am still eating.” (imperfective)
Table of Temporal Aspect Markers
| Aspect | Morpheme | Temporal Marker | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfective | -ED | FINISH | I FINISH EAT-ED. |
| Imperfective | -ING | STILL | I STILL EAT-ING. |
Question 1:
What is the temporal aspect in American Sign Language (ASL)?
Answer:
The temporal aspect in American Sign Language (ASL) refers to the concept of time and how it is expressed in the language. ASL uses a combination of body movements, handshapes, and facial expressions to convey temporal information, including past, present, and future events. Temporal modifiers can be incorporated into ASL signs to indicate when an event occurred or will occur.
Question 2:
How is the past tense expressed in ASL?
Answer:
In ASL, the past tense is generally expressed by moving the hands away from or behind the body. This movement simulates the passing of time and creates a visual representation of events that have occurred in the past. Additionally, specific signs, such as “yesterday” or “last week,” can be used to indicate past time.
Question 3:
What are some ways to indicate the future in ASL?
Answer:
The future tense in ASL is often conveyed through forward movements of the hands. Signs such as “tomorrow” or “next week” can be used to explicitly state future events. Additionally, facial expressions, such as raised eyebrows or a slight forward lean, can be used to suggest that an event will occur in the future.
Thanks for sticking with me through this quick dive into the temporal aspect of ASL. I know it can be a bit of a head-scratcher at first, but I hope you’re starting to get the hang of it. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to give it a try. And if you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to drop by again later. I’ll be here, waving my hands and signing away!