In American Sign Language (ASL), the terms "lexicalization" and "initialization"
refer to different linguistic processes.
1. Initialization: This is a form of signing in ASL that involves the use of the
initial letter of a common word that the sign tends to be associated with in
English. For example, the sign for "MONDAY" is represented by drawing a circle
in the air with an "M" handshape.
2. Lexicalization: This process refers to the creation of a new word (or sign)
in a language. In ASL, lexicalization often involves taking a fingerspelled word
(i.e., a word spelled out letter-by-letter using the ASL alphabet) and modifying
it over time into a more fluid, single sign. For example, the sign "NO" likely
began as a fingerspelled word, but over time it became lexicalized and is now
signed as a single sign that only generally resembles the original
fingerspelling.
Think of the word lexicalization as meaning "to become like a lexeme" -- which
is another way of stating "to become like a word" -- or in the case of ASL it
means "to become like a sign."
Thus when we morph our fingerspelling and make it more streamlined we are
causing the spelled concept to look like and be produced more like a single sign
than a series of individual fingerspelled letters.
Notes: