PEO - Classifiers (Lesson)

Classifiers

Classifiers are designated handshapes and/or rule-governed body pantomime that are used to represent nouns and verbs. The purpose of these commonly recognized handshapes is to show different "classes" of things, shapes, and sizes. That is why they are called "classifiers." They provide additional information about nouns and verbs such as location, kind of action, size, shape, and manner. A classifier can be integrated into a pronoun, an adjective, a verb, an adverb, and/or a preposition. Always sign the noun first before using its classifier to refer to it.

There are 8 (eight) types of classifiers in ASL:

In this class, we will explore the first 2 types of classifiers: Size and Shape Specifiers (SASSes) and Semantic Classifiers.

Size and Shape Specifier (SASS)

Describe certain physical characteristics such as size, shape, depth, and texture of a noun as well as indicate its location in space. These are classifiers that function as adjectives and are generally signed after the noun they are modifying. They show how small, big, narrow, wide, short, long, thin, flat, round, thick, etc. something is.

Semantic Classifiers

Semantic classifiers are more abstract handshapes that represent the characteristics of the object. They function as "pronoun" that replaces a noun (or as noun and verb combined) and provide information about how the noun is functioning. 

While there are dozens of potential classifiers, the video below will discuss 7 classifiers. 

Classifier Lecture Video

Classifiers - Example Sentences Video

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