The Five Parameters of an ASL Sign
Every ASL sign is a combination of five simultaneous parameters — change any one of them and you change the sign's meaning, just as changing a letter in a spoken word changes its meaning. The five parameters are: (1) Handshape — the configuration of the fingers (e.g., a flat B-hand vs. a closed fist). (2) Location — where the sign is produced in space relative to the body (e.g., forehead, chest, neutral space in front of the body). (3) Movement — how the hand moves (e.g., circular, straight, repeated, single). (4) Palm orientation — the direction the palm faces (up, down, inward toward the signer, outward toward the viewer). (5) Non-manual markers (NMMs) — facial expressions, mouth movements, eye gaze, and body position that carry grammatical meaning. A minimal pair in ASL illustrates how parameters work: MOTHER and FATHER use the same handshape (open 5-hand with thumb) and the same movement (thumb taps the face), but differ only in location — chin for MOTHER, forehead for FATHER. Similarly, SICK and SORRY differ only in movement and location. Mastering these parameters is the foundation of signing accurately.