| Overview | Grammar | Positions | Environmental info | Backchanneling | Changes to signs | Conclusion | Works Cited |Appendix
Michelle Radin
Special Education Service Agency
In general, Tactile American Sign language (TSL) is American Sign Language (ASL) that is signed into the receiver’s hands. Although many aspects of ASL stay the same when presented tactually, there are some necessary accommodations.
Aspects of ASL and TSL that are different:
- Some parts of the language’s grammar need to be changed when signs are received manually.
- Information about the environment that a deaf-blind individual should be aware of, such as who is present, need to be added.
- Backchanneling, information about how the receiver feels about the information conveyed, is handeled differently. An example of backchanneling in spoken English would be, “I see.” or, “No WAY!”
- Some signs have to be altered slightly so that the receiver can keep his or her hands on the communicator’s hands without struggling or reaching; for example, signs that are made on the body where the receiver would otherwise have to bend forward to “follow” them.
- Adverbs, which are typically conveyed through facial expressions in ASL, must be encoded manually in TSL.
Grammar differences between ASL and TSL
In ASL, facial expressions typically mark the difference between questions and statements1. In TSL, the difference must be signed explicitly so that questions and statements are not confused. At the end of a sentence, deaf-blind individuals use the sign for “question”, which is a bending and unbending of the index finger, as shown in the picture to the right, to mark a question2.
For example, you might sign “SICK YOU QUESTION?” to say “Are you sick?
Another aspect of grammar that must be encoded manually in TSL are negative operators; words like “not”. In ASL, the phrase “…don’t understand” is said with the word “understand” along with a negative facial expression. In TSL, the word “no”, is substituted for the facial expression.3For example, the sentence “I didn’t find it”, which in ASL would look like “Find it I” with a negative facial expression, would look like “Find it I no no no” in TSL.
This is the sign “no”. The two fingers open and close about three times quickly.
How do I use my hands while communicating in TSL?
There are two basic “positions” when using TSL, the monologue position, and the dialogue position.4
The monologue position
This position is used when one person talks to another for an extended time. This is also used when the deaf-blind individual is with an interpreter.
The communicator will sign as usual, and the deaf-blind receiver will rest his or her hands on the communicator’s. If the two are seated or standing opposite eachother, such as this example in which the deaf-blind individual is eating, then both hands are used. If they are seated beside eachother, then the receiver can use the one hand that is closer to the communicator if he or she is still able to understand the message. This is typically the most common position with TSL users who are skilled at communicating.5 It is important to use both hands with deaf-blind individuals who are developing communication skills; the message is more important then the communication technique.
 The dialogue position
This position is used when two people are having a conversation. It also supports a give and take type of conversation, rather then simply a receptive one. In this position, the dominant hand of each person (typically the right hand) is under the passive hand of the other person (typically the left). This allows both people to sign and to also take turns rapidly.
“Levels” in TSL6
There are also other positions whose purpose is to indicate whose turn it is to speak. In these illiustrations, the communicator is on the left.
The environment in TSL
The sighted person should give relevant information to the deaf-blind communicator about his or her environment.
Tactile Sign Language includes words that give information about the environment. Although this information may not be part of the message conveyed, it is important for the deaf-blind individual to be aware of. For this reason, TSL builds this type of information into the language. For example, I have often seen TSL interpreters sign “hahaha” if the deaf-blind communicator’s words were considered funny by either the receiver, those around him or her, or the audience in the case of a presentation. This sign is very easy to do. It is basically the two “H” fingers bent and unbent slightly.
The receiver can disagree with the speaker by making the sign for “no” (shown in pictures on the right). The sign in this case is made by the receiver gently on the back of the communicator’s hand.
Notice the difference between “hahaha” and “no”. They look similar but mean almost the opposite. In the sign for “hahah”, the thumb is tucked down. In the sign for “no”, it is out.
To indicate that you didn’t understand, or you want something repeated, the receiver should gently pull the communicator’s hands toward their own7.
Through all of this, the signing can continue just as it would if people were speaking over each other, or facial expressions were being made while someone was talking.
You don’t have to continue signing the same environmental information if it remains the same, but if it changes, for example, a person goes from smiling to frowning, that information should be conveyed8.
In addition, it is important to give other information about the environment, such as who is present, or who has left the area, just as you would as a sighted guide. One researcher suggests developing a code with the person to signal these things9 with a series of taps. The hearing receiver might give one tap for a person entering the environment and two for a person leaving. Of course, this information would only be given if that person is relevant to the deaf-blind individual. This could be taught slowly by using it to mean that an individual wants to add into the conversation and talk with Steven. This will show him the meaning of the taps.
In ASL, pronouns are typically made with a point of the index finger. For example, if Bob is sitting across the table from the receiver, the communicator would point in that direction to indicate him. Since directionality isn’t as concrete in TSL as in ASL, it is important to give the speaker’s name, and avoid the pronoun.10
Backchanneling
Backchanneling refers to information about the listener’s response to what is said.
Many languages, including spoken English, use forms of backchanneling. It is important that the speaker know what the listener’s response to their communication is. In spoken English, this could refer to facial expressions, such as a look of surprise, or phrases such as “Oh no!” In ASL, this is also the case. Backchanneling is accomplished by both facial expressions and words, such as “Oh, I see.”
In TSL, neither of these things is accessible. Even though the phrase “Oh, I see” can be used, it requires the speaker to stop communicating, possibly change positions, and to wait for the other communicator to make that sign, causing stress on the smooth nature of the utterance. In addition, facial expressions can’t be seen by a blind communicator11.
TSL has a few ways of effectively backchanneling. One is for the listener to gently tap the communicator’s hand to signal understanding, a movement similar to “Yes, I agree” that doesn’t require a break in the conversation.12
Another is for the communicator to slow the rate of his or her signs or to hold his or her hands still for a moment. This indicates that they want feedback. It basically means “Do you agree?”13
In addition, if two people are in dialogue position, this facilitates quick remarks like “yes” to show agreement. The sign for “yes” is shown in these pictures. It is made with a “nod” of the fist.
Changes to signs in TSL
 Changing signs for logistical purposes
Although most ASL signs stay the same when presented tactually, some have to be altered.
There are some signs, such as “work”, that are made on the back of the hand. This sign is illustrated at left. If the receiver’s hands are on the back of the communicator’s, their hand would cover the area where he or she needs to “be” in order to properly make the sign. In this case, simply make the sign on the top of the receiver’s hand, as if their hand was part of yours14.
There are some signs that are made on your body, such as the sign for “mine”, illustrated below.  It would be logistically, and possibly personally awkward to force the receivers arms to follow yours into your body space. Also, it would be tiring for the receiver to have to follow the communicator’s hands around a large area. For this reason, when signing tactually, you should sign in a smaller space than you normally would. If a sign is made close to your body, lean forward slightly, or bend your head for signs made on your head, so that the receiver has less of a distance to move when “following” your signs.15
Changing signs for clarity
Receiving signs tactually isn’t always an exact science; the receiver’s hands are not always “aware” of the entire sign made by the communicator. For example, the sign “island” is made with the “I” handshape, which might be missed entirely if the receiver does not have his or her hands in the exact right shape. On the other hand, a skilled tactile communicator will read signs mostly through movement and location rather than through handshapes alone.
 For this reason, a few authors have suggested fingerspelling some signs that might be confused when received tactually. The word “gun” and “21” are very similar. In this case, you might want to sign “21”, and finger-spell “gun.”16
Conclusion
Deaf-Blind individuals experience the world very differently than hearing sighted individuals do. Is tactile sign language “harder” than spoken English? Although modifications have to be made for TSL, the language itself is not any harder to learn than any other language and can convey the same depth and range of emotions as any other language. It is important to follow these guidelines, however, to keep the meaning from becoming ambiguous.
Works Cited
Frankel, Mindy A., “Deaf-blind Interpreting: Interpreter’s Use of Negation in Tactile American Sign Language”. Sign Language Studies. 2:2 Winter 2002.
Grossman, Ruth B. & Judy Kegl. “Moving Faces: Catagoratization of Dynamic Facial Expressions in American Sign Language by Deaf and Hearing Participants”. Nonverbal Behavior. 31:23 2007.
Mesch, Johanna. Tactile Sign Language. Hamburg, Germany. Signum Press. 2001.
Morgan, Susie. Sign Language with People who are Deaf-Blind: Suggestions for Tactile and Visual Modifications. WWW.deafblind.com/slmorgan.html. Accessed Nov 7, 2007
Petronio, Karen & Valrie Dively, “Yes, #no, Visibility, and Variation in ASL and Tactile ASL”. Sign Language Studies. 7:1 Fall 2006.
Appendix: Online ASL and TSL resources
Online ASL classes
- http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101A deaf individual teaches this free, on-line ASL class. I highly recommend it. It doesn’t offer credits, but for a fee you can receive a certificate saying that you completed it. Otherwise it is free.
- http://www.signingonline.com/about/index.html
These online ASL classes cost $49.95 each, and offer 1.5 CEUs for each class. They have four levels.
- http://www.aslpro.com/
This website offers additional resources for people enrolled in or teaching ASL classes, but does not have a comprehensive class in itself. It was designed specifically for the classroom teacher, and offers online quizzes and a dictionary including one for religious signs, which are hard to find other places, and a figerspelling lesson and quiz.
- http://www.lessontutor.com/ASLgenhome.html
This list of self-paced online lessons is free, but does not offer credits. It teaches Signed English, and explains the difference between signed English and American Sign Language.
- http://www.handspeak.com/
This site offers many interesting classes, including ones in baby sign. They also offer tips on using ASL with student who are deaf and/or have additional disabilities. It is a paid-subscription site, where you pay about $5 a month to use their extensive services. They do not offer credits. Make sure that you are looking at the ASL or baby sign sections, and not the International Sign, Animal talk, or “others” sections. It offers good information for free as well, such as ASL grammar tips.
- http://www.snow.edu/online.html
Snow College in Utah offers a full, three-credit introduction to ASL class, and an independent study ASL course online. It costs $354 dollars.
ASL dictionaries
Fingerspelling practice
- http://www.asl.ms/
Has an easy-to-access quiz. Presents fingerspelling as a series of still photos, which is more consistent with signed English or the beginning signer of ASL. Kid-friendly as well.
- http://www.jal.cc.il.us/ipp/fingspell/ Gives video clips of fingerspelling examples that are consistent with advanced ASL grammar and deaf culture.
Fingerspelling fonts
ASL classes in Alaska
1 Grossman, 23
2 Petronio 61
3 Petronio, 83
4 Mesch, 42
5 Petrono, 60
6 Mesche, 82
7 Morgan
8 Morgan
9Frankel, 171
10 Morgan
11 Frankel, 171;
12 Mesch, 56
13 Mesch, 56
14 Mesch, 60; Frankel, 171
15 Mesch, 44
16 Morgan |
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