Language First Learning Library

Course description: This presentation provides a detailed anatomical exploration of the primary sign language articulators – the hands and arms in order to understand the foundations of linguistic markedness. From there we’ll discuss the distinction between phonology and articulation. This will lead us into a brief introduction to a motor skill chart meant to help clinicians understand the source of sign production errors (i.e., is it phonologic or motoric) and finally an examination of phonological processes with practical applications of what we cover about articulation.

Agenda:

15 minutes: The articulators

15 minutes: Markedness

10 minutes: Phonology vs Articulation

10 minutes: Motor Skill Chart and Resource

15 minutes: Practical Application w/ Sign Production Errors

Learner outcomes:

Participants will be able to:

1. Describe the basic anatomy and physiology of primary sign language
   articulators and its relation to linguistic markedness 
2. Explain how the anatomy and physiology of the arms and hands relates to
   linguistic markedness 
3. Determine how to use principles of linguistic markedness to determine if sign production errors are phonologic (linguistic) or motoric in nature (and utilize the Motor Skill Chart and Resource to identify appropriate treatment, or if treatment is necessary)