首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Linguists have found that sign languages and spoken languages share many features. Like spoken languages, which use units of sou
Linguists have found that sign languages and spoken languages share many features. Like spoken languages, which use units of sou
admin
2010-01-18
54
问题
Linguists have found that sign languages and spoken languages share many features. Like spoken languages, which use units of sounds to produce words, sign languages use units of form. These units are composed of four basic hand forms: hand shape, such as an open hand or closed fist; hand location, such as on the middle of the forehead or in front of the chest; hand movement, such as upward or downward; and hand orientation, such as the palm facing up or out.
In spoken languages units of sound combine to make meaning. Separately, b, e, and t have no meaning. However, together they form the word bet. Sign languages contain units of form that by themselves hold no meaning, but when combined create a word. Spoken languages and sign languages differ in the way these units combine to make words, however. In spoken languages units of sound and meaning are combined sequentially. In sign languages, units of form and meaning are typically combined simultaneously.
In American Sign Language (ASL) signs follow a certain order, just as words do in spoken English. However, in ASL one sign can express meaning that would necessitate the use of several words in speech. For example, the words in the statement "I stared at it for a long time" each contain a unit of meaning. In ASL, this same sentence would be expressed as a single sign. The signer forms "look at" by making a Ⅴ under the eyes with the first and middle fingers of the right hand. The hand moves out toward the object being looked at, repeatedly tracing an oval to indicate "over a long time." To express the adverb "intently" the signer squints the eyes and purses the lips. (To purse the lips is like saying mmmm; pull back and tighten the lips with the lips closed.) Although the English words used to describe the ASL signs are written out in order, in sign language a person forms the signs "look at," "long time," and "intently" at the same time.
ASL has a rich system for modifying the meaning of signs. Verbs such as "look at" can be changed to indicate that the activity takes place without interruption, repeatedly, or over a long time. The adjective "sick," for example, is formed by placing the right middle finger on the forehead and the left middle finger on the stomach. By forming the sign "sick" and repeatedly moving the left hand in a circle, the signer can indicate that someone is characteristically or always sick.
Facial grammar, such as raised eyebrows, also can modify meaning. For example, a signer can make the statement "He is smart" by forming the ASL sign for "smart" placing the middle finger at the forehead—and then quickly pointing it outward as if toward another person to indicate "he." To pose the question "Is he smart?" the sigher accompanies this sign with raised eyebrows and a slightly tilted head.
People who sign sometimes use finger spelling to represent letters of the alphabet. In some sign languages, including ASL, finger spelling serves as a way to borrow words from spoken language. A deaf person might, for example, choose to fingerspell "d-o-g" for "dog" instead of using a sign. Several types of finger spelling systems exist.
Linguists still have much to learn about the world’s sign languages. What has become clear is that hundreds, if not thousands, of sign languages exist around the world.
What is the main idea of the passage?
选项
A、The difference between spoken language and sign language.
B、A new way to communicate.
C、Sign language.
D、Language and culture.
答案
C
解析
通读全文,主要讲述的是手语的内容。故选C。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/l3vO777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
A、Wecannotreachanagreement,letaloneaspokenpromise.B、We’dbetterdraftandthensignawrittenagreement.C、Wegenerall
"IdelightinBuckinghamPalace",saidQueenVictoria,whenshemovedinthreeweeksafterascendingtothethrone.Todaythe40
DriversontheBasingstokeby-passusedtohavetheirattentiondivertedbyasignthatreadsAMOMENT’SINATTENTIONCAUSESACCI
DriversontheBasingstokeby-passusedtohavetheirattentiondivertedbyasignthatreadsAMOMENT’SINATTENTIONCAUSESACCI
Actually,though,America,the"landofimmigrants",hasalwayshadpeopleofmanydifferentnationalitiesandlanguages.The19
A、Taketheelevatoruptothetop.B、Gettotheobservationlevel.C、Takepicturesfromhighup.D、Allofabove.D
Asregardssocialconventions,wemustsayawordaboutthewell-knownEnglishclasssystem.Thisisanembarrassingsubjectfor
A、SinceI’veboughtaPSP,Ican’taffordtogototheconcert.B、MyPSPisworthmorethanaticketfortheconcert.C、Idon’t
A、Avideotape.B、Abook.C、Apicture.D、Anoxygentank.C
A、Theeconomicexpertsbroadlyagreethattheaveragegrowthrateis2.4percenteachyearunderLabour.B、TheLabourfailedto
随机试题
在大多数传染病的感染过程中最常见的是()
导体切割磁力线的速度越快,导体中所产生的感应电动势也就越大。()
对诊断最有价值的检查应选用INH+SM+PAS治疗一个月后,症状无明显改善,出现耳鸣、重听,血沉45mm/h,肝功正常,应改用注:INH异烟肼,SM:链霉素,KM:卡那霉素,PAS:对氨水杨酸,RFP:利福平,EMB:乙胺丁醇
一对法国夫妇婚后移居西班牙,后来华工作。该夫妇于2011年收养一名中国儿童并决定一起回西班牙生活。根据我国法律,有关该夫妇收养中国儿童的条件和手续适用的法律,下列哪项是正确的?()
供应链管理就是指在满足一定的客户服务水平的条件下,为了使整个供应链系统成本达到最小而把供应商、制造商、仓库、配送中心和渠道商等有效组织在一起来进行制造、转运、分销及销售的管理方法。
××市人民政府关于2009年实施重大项目建设责任制的意见××省人民政府:为发挥投资对经济的拉动影响,加强重大项目建设的组织领导,充分调动各方面的积极性,强力推进重大项目建设进程,现就2009年实施重大项目建设责任制提出如下意见。一、实
某大学图书馆对前一天在图书馆借阅了图书的99个学生进行了调查,发现有62人借阅了管理类书籍,34人借阅了社会学类书籍,11人这两类书籍都借阅了。则这99个学生这两类书籍都没借阅的学生有()人。
坐标xOy平面上有一力场F,在点P(x,y)处力F(x,y)的大小为P点到原点O的距离,方向为P点矢径逆时针旋转要,求质点沿下列曲线由点A(a,0)移到点B(0,a)时力F所做的功W:(1)C1:圆周x2+y2=a2在第一象限内的弧.(
Thehousingmarkethasbeenfortwoyearsproppingupconsumers’spiritswhiletherestoftheeconomyliesexhaustedontheflo
Whichofthefollowingisnotcontainedinthegeneticallymodifiedmaize?
最新回复
(
0
)