Discourse in Signed Languages

Identifying Depiction: Constructed Action and Constructed Dialogue

46 Identifying Depiction: Constructed Action and Constructed Dialogue in ASL Presentations Mary Thumann Languages can utilize two major types of communicative acts: real or literal behaviors that are actually happening at the time they are observed, and nonliteral behaviors that are not actually happening but are in fact a representation of something (Goffman, 1974). These representations of nonliteral behaviors are also known as depiction. Depiction involves the representation of behaviors or events that are not considered to be actually occurring at the time. The depiction of an entity (i.e., human, animal, or object) or event involves some type of representation and involves the act of showing what something “looks like or is like” (Streeck, 2008, p. 289). This may be accomplished by the use of words, vocal intonation, gestures, or partial physical demonstrations. A speaker may incorporate an instance of depiction in a conversation about the location of his or her home. The speaker could use a paper and pen to represent identifiable features such as the house and the driveway . The addressee understands that the paper and pen are no longer representing writing utensils but are now representative of the speaker’s house and driveway. In addition to using actions to represent nonliteral behaviors, speakers may also use language to depict behaviors, events, or even entities that are not physically present. An example of a behavior that is actually happening occurs in a classroom when a teacher writes a name on the board. In this situation, the teacher is physically present in a room with students, has a writing instrument , and literally writes words on a board. An example of a nonliteral This chapter is adapted from Identifying Depiction in American Sign Language Presentations (Thumann, 2010). Roy_Part 1_Pgs 1-66 .indd 46 8/17/2011 1:53:25 PM Identifying Depiction : 47 behavior, or one that is not actually happening at the time, occurs when someone imitates or depicts the behavior of a teacher writing on a board. Although there is no blackboard in the actual environment of the speaker, the speaker goes through the motions of writing on a board. The image in figure 2.1 shows someone holding his hand as if there is a writing instrument in it, but there is no teacher, no classroom, and no physically present chalk. Nonliteral behaviors and speech are types of depiction and may include constructed action or constructed dialogue. In order to ensure accurate comprehension, addressees must be able to distinguish instances of constructed action and/or constructed dialogue from instances of behavior and dialogue that are actually occurring. Depiction of an entity or event is understood by first recognizing that the entity or event is not literally occurring, then by interpreting it as if it were the actual entity or event. Although the picture in figure 2.1 is taken from an ASL presentation, it could easily be from a spoken-language presentation in which the speaker depicts a teacher writing on a board. Depiction can occur in both spoken languages and signed languages; however, throughout the rest of this chapter, I focus on depiction in ASL. I developed my definition of depiction by drawing from and expanding on the work of Liddell (2003) and Dudis (2007), who analyzed various features of ASL and provided information on the use of depiction. Depiction in ASL refers to the visual representation of aspects of events, settings, objects, or abstract concepts using components that are accessible in the figure 2.1. Depiction of a |teacher|1 writing on a |board|. 1. Notational conventions used in this paper are those proposed by Liddell (2003). Roy_Part 1_Pgs 1-66 .indd 47 8/17/2011 1:53:25 PM 48 : mary thumann immediate environment. Signers may make certain aspects of entities or events visible by associating a fragment of a sign or a location in signing space with an entity or event. Signers may also associate their hands, arms, and body as they depict a behavior or entity (Dudis, personal communication , 2008). The representation of entities or events occurs throughout language use. The primary function of depiction in ASL is to provide a partial demonstration of the event being described (Liddell, 2003). Although addressees are not actually able to see the entities or events discussed, signers use role shifting, classifiers and classifier predicates, and the referential use of space to represent entities and events. In an examination of 160 minutes of...