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From:
William MacGruder Date: Tue Feb 23, 1999 4:29 am Subject: Re: topics | ||||||||
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In a message dated 2/22/99 8:26:56 PM Pacific Standard Time, writes: << Subject: topics To clarify (?) Valerie's point below... It is my understanding that the topic marker is not used in all sentences in ASL, only in those which use the grammatical process known as "topicalization" this is a fancy word for putting the topic at the beginning of the sentence; ordinarily it would come after the verb, as in [the cat eats grass] We can sign it like that, word for word, in ASL, but more often than not we topicalize it--move the grass to the front-- so it comes out [grass eats the cat.] That's no good in English, and it's also no good in ASL unless you include a topicalization marker, which is raised eyebrows. The raised eyebrows signals why the grass is in front of the cat--it's the topic. So if the object/topic is put first, the sentence starts with raised eyebrows, and if the topic is last (after the verb), then it doesn't have raised eyebrows. >> After reading the above, the following just popped into mind: Perhaps the best thing then would be to write the Signs and then next to the Sign which is the Topic of the sentence or phrase, just write or draw two tiny eyebrows. I know it's corny, but it could work. Cheers! -William J. "Chip" McGruder Monterey, California | ||||||||
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