Thinking in American Sign Language: A Priori and A Posteriori Judgements

Let's turn the lenses of the telescope to American Sign Language (ASL). It would be a great mistake to focus it only on hands because these hands are linguistically modified by other articulating parts such as facial expressions, modifier movements, start-end locations, etc.

Consider:

1. I give it to you.

2. She gives it to me.

In ASL, I argue, the sign GIVE in the above sentences 1 and 2 has completely different start-end locations. The sign GIVE in the sentence 1 begins with the proximal of the signer and ends with the proximal of the second person, that is, you; whereas the sentence 2 begins with the sign GIVE in the proximal of the third person, she, and ends with the proximal of the first person, that is, me.

No knowledge of ASL can be obtained by merely staring at hand configuration. To know ASL you must think in ASL. Intuitions in ASL are particulars; to connect hand signals, for example, with start-end locations so that we can make meaning, pass judgement, we form concepts.

Before examining in details thinking in ASL, let us look at the terms Kant employs. It is difficult, and I don't comprehend it fully. However I will attempt to illustrate what I think you think I think Kant means. Kant shows there exist two true propositions that are independent of experience. Kant calls them a priori and a posteriori judgements.

An a priori judgment can always be true. Kant gives us an example 5 + 7 = 12. We always do it right; whereas "all grizzlies are brown" is an a posteriori judgment and can be either upsetting or amazing if we discover an albino grizzly.

The sign GIVE in my above example sentences is an a posteriori judgment because it is different from the sign in any ASL dictionary. The sign EAT, on the other hand, is an a priori judgment because it is the same as the sign in the dictionary.

It is therefore very important that we talk about ASL when we pass meanings and judgments. The way we talk is the way we simply cannot help thinking. There is no choice about it; talking about ASL means thinking in ASL.