Copysigning (A Handout)

Mozart,

when asked how 

one would learn to compose:

"Here, here and here

(pointing 

to his ear, his head and his heart) 

is your school.

This handout is about you, about American Sign Language (ASL), about your personal relationship with ASL.  It is designed to help you develop your perception, perfect your skills in ASL, and to communicate your thoughts in ASL.  You can improve your ability to use ASL consistently if willing to be a little more meaningful in how to acquire ASL—freesigning and now copysigning.

Copysigning is an essential part of the acquisition of ASL.  Your essential objective in this copysigning exercise is just to copy ASL.  Too much analysis of ASL can hamper your creative skills as there is no right or wrong to go about copysigning exercises, yet there are several patterns that you can follow.

The following copysigning exercises will provide you with the essential tools for acquiring ASL.  With these tools, you will have the means to:

·        Perceive and notate any style of ASL.

·        Remove obstacles to communication.

·        Be able to jot down notes for Hold-Movement models and H-deletions.

·        Consolidate your skills in ASL into an integrated, subconscious process.

This handout will prepare you for a new skill in ASL.  The emphasis is on copying ASL.  ASL is, after all, language, and all things visual and intellectual (parts of signs, grammar, etc.) merely serve or support the making of you as the student of ASL.  Contrary to most textbooks, this handout emphasizes acquiring ASL according to how it looks like, rather than what it looks like.

The understanding and mastery of ASL will prepare you for the unknown, the uncharted, the unexpected.