IMET - ASL Depiction: An Introductory Guide

**Available on September 15, 2025

This course is designed for aspiring and working interpreters who are new to ASL depiction and have not had prior formal training in classifiers or depicting techniques.  It’s also a great option if you’re looking for a refresher to strengthen your skills. Through a four-part structure, the course introduces key concepts and skills to help participants understand how depiction functions within ASL to visually represent actions, environments, and relationships.

• Part 1 provides an introduction to depiction and its role in ASL communication.
• Part 2 explores the seven classifier functions, offering guided practice in recognizing and using various types of classifiers.
• Part 3 focuses on non-manual markers and mouth morphemes that support and enhance depiction.
• Part 4 delves into Constructed Action and Constructed Dialogue, giving participants tools to represent people, behaviors, and perspectives accurately.

Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on how depiction enhances meaning and accessibility in interpretation. Participants will build foundational skills to recognize, understand, and apply visual-spatial strategies to support greater linguistic and visual accuracy in their interpreting work.

Course Objectives:

As a result of completion of this course, participants will:

1. Define depiction and explain its function and importance in ASL communication and interpretation.
2. Identify and distinguish the seven classifier functions, and demonstrate basic application of each in contextually appropriate ways.
3. Incorporate non-manual markers and mouth morphemes that enhance clarity, meaning, and grammatical accuracy in depicting messages.
4. Demonstrate the use of Constructed Action (CA) and Constructed Dialogue (CD) to represent people, behaviors, and perspectives in ASL narratives and interpretation.
5. Analyze examples of ASL depiction in natural discourse and interpretive settings for effective visual-spatial strategies.
6. Self-assess and apply feedback to improve accuracy, clarity, and confidence in using depiction within expressive ASL work.
7. Begin integrating depiction techniques into their interpreting practice to support more accurate, engaging, and accessible interpretations.