Transition Markers

Transition Markers

1. Importance of Transition Markers

   • show which comments belong to which topics
     • help listener have a clear understanding, how sentences and comments relate, & know when a topic has ended and a new one begins
       • Issues to consider: how the current point/topic relates to the previous one?, how the information is being presented?, what transition word(s) would clarify this relationship?
         • ASL: well, happen, finish, inform you, know-that, now, anyway, understand, fine, but, #so
         • English: pauses and words (OK, fine, now, so, and, well, likewise, however, although, for example, therefore, consequently, because, since, first, next, subsequently)

2. Transition Markers in ASL

   • Problem: marker not recognized so info remains connected to previous
   • ASL (topic ending): pause, slight head nod, clasp hands, drop hands
     • SIGNS: anyway, push-aside, next, enumerating & moving to a new finger
       • NOW & KNOW-THAT introduce new topic
       • ANYWAY EXAMPLE
       • INFORM-YOU w/ signer leaning body to side indicates aside in narrative: "by the way" w/ drop in pitch
   • English: pauses or words (now, ok, next, then, so)
     • "and" DOES NOT, implies more information is to come

3. Conjunctions

   • WRONG (w/ twisting movement on chin): "without warning", "suddenly", "unexpectedly", "all of a sudden", "abruptly"
   • HAPPEN: "just so happened that", "when", show relationship between sentences/clauses, "and then" connects 2 thoughts
   • HIT: means something happened unexpectedly (cause before conveys expected while cause after conveys what not expected), :turned out that", "ran into" implies event unplanned, "it turned out", "suddenly", "by surprise", "unforeseen", "unanticipated"
   • FRUSTRATE: used after statement of something that signer had hoped to be/do/get but was prevented from, "disappointed", "annoyed", "saddened"

4. The Word Ok

   • English relies heavily
     • 1. in dialogue as a response before talking own turn of talk, ASL do not usually sign OK but would nod head vigorously
       • 2. to show understanding, ASL might use FINE
         • 3. as an affirmative answer to question, ASL use SURE/YES/OK
           • 4. to show confirmation & agreement, ASL use GOOD
             • 5. in pre-closings & closing of conversation
               • 6. as an attempt to gain the floor or keep floor, ASL users raise hand, palm out, body moves forward, or nod more
                 • 7. by a group leader in order to close proceedings or to finish one topic before moving on to a new one. ASL users sign ANYWAY/NOW/NEXT, use slight head nod, or use "push away to side" sign

5. linguistic features used to help determine the shift from old information to new information or when a speaker is moving on

   • Alyssa Fletcher Chapter 9 11/14/16

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