Obraz (85)

34 Phonology

and the sequence within the nonmanual signal cannot bc reversed. It is not possible to begin with an open mouth and end with closed lips. It would seem then, that sequence in nonmanual signals is very important.

Many signs have a sequence of locations; that is, first one and then the other. For example, the sign DEAF begins just below the ear and ends on the chin. How-ever, it can begin the other way around, on the chin, and end just below the ear. This is an example of variation in ASL, variation that occurs for stylistic or regional or grammatical reasons. What is important is that the variation lies in the sequence of locations. Since the sign means the same thing whether it begins at the ear or the chin, it is not an example of contrast, but the sequence of locations still is important in understanding the structure of ASL and how it can vary.

It is important to remember that sign languages show sequential contrast in the same way that spoken languages do, and it is very important for the system used to describe the sign language to represent that fact.