In a message dated 1/21/2008 5:20:20 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, lwilt@
writes:
Hi, Bill, I have a question for you – what is the difference between using
the sign for “blame, accuse” to indicate “fault” versus the sign where the
hand drops down from “responsibility”? do either of these signs represent
the concept of ‘having many faults’ (shortcomings)?
Thanks for your help!
Linda Wilt
Linda,
"Shortcomings" would not use the sign "FAULT." Shortcomings would be
described with phrases such as:
"HE/SHE PROBLEMS MANY!"
"HE/SHE WEAK MANY!"
"HIS/HER CHARACTER? SO-SO."
"HE/SHE not-GOOD-ENOUGH."
Such phrases would be accompanied by non-manual markers (facial
expressions/body language) such as a "scrunched nose."
The "BLAME" sign can mean "accuse," "It is
your/my/his/her/its fault" or "blamed." This sign is directional thus it can
indicate who or what is "at fault" or who is being "accused" as well as who
is doing the accusing.
The "FAULT" sign is non-directional and
needs a sign such as "YOUR," "MY," or "HIS/HER" to indicate the object. This
sign cannot be used directly to indicate "accusation." You would need to
sign, "SHE INFORM-me your-FAULT" or "SHE TOLD-me YOUR FAULT."
-- Bill
In a message dated 1/21/2008 10:11:12 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, lwilt@
writes:
Ok, so besides one being directional and one needing a possessive pronoun
both sign mean the same thing?
In a message dated 1/21/2008 1:46:28 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
BillVicars writes:
No. Each sign has its own semantic range (a range of meanings). The semantic
ranges of the two signs do overlap, but not completely.
If you look the words up in an English dictionary you will note that the
word "fault" has about twice as many meanings as the word "blame."
The ASL sign FAULT only expresses two or three of the meanings of the word
"fault."
The meanings of the word "blame" generally contain the concept of "to" as in
"to find fault," "to accuse," "to attribute."
I generally think of the ASL sign "FAULT" as being limited to meaning
"responsibility for some negative occurrence or situation."
The ASL sign BLAME carries a wider semantic range than the ASL sign "FAULT."
American Sign Language University ™ ASL resources by Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars