ASL SENTENCE TYPES

Unit 19 ASL 3/4

There are 6 types of sentences in ASL

1. Questions (Y/N, Rhetorical, “wh”)2. Commands3. Conditionals4. Negations/Assertions5. Topic-Comment6. Relative Clauses

Yes/No Questions- This is used when asking a question that

is answered either affirmatively or negatively.

- In ASL, the sentence is signed, and the last sign is held with raised eyebrows, with a slight forward lean, while waiting for the answer.

- Ex: Do you want to go see a movie?

“Wh” Questions- This is used when asking a question that

requires a answer other than “yes” or “no,” i.e. who, what, where, when, why, how many, etc.

- In ASL, the sentence is signed and the last sign (the wh- question word) is held with furrowed eyebrows, with a slight forward lean, while waiting for the answer.

- Ex. What did you do yesterday?

Rhetorical Questions- This is used when asking a question

that you are planning on answering yourself.

- In ASL, a “wh” sentence is signed, and the last sign is held with raised eyebrows, with a slight pause, then the answer is signed.

- Ex: Yesterday, what did I do? I cleaned my house.

Commands are sentences that order a person to do something.

A command is signed while making direct eye contact. There is emphasis on the verb making the sign faster and more sharp.

However, if the signer does not feel the person will want to obey, the stress on the verb is usually very slow and deliberate with sharp eye contact.

Ex: Go clean your room.

Conditional sentences have 2 parts, a part that states the condition, and then a part that will state the result.

In ASL, the condition portion is usually signed first with a raised brow with a slight head and body tilt. Then there is a slight pause, and the result will be signed following appropriate NMGS (the result could be a question or a statement.)

Ex: If you give a mouse a cookie, he will ask for a glass of milk.

Ex: If it snows tomorrow, will we have school?

Negation A negation is a sentence that is negated. In ASL, a sentence can be negated by

merely shaking the head “no” while signing, and is usually accompanied by a frown, wrinkled nose, and/or pursed lips. Or, it can be negated by using a negation sign, such as NEVER, NO, NOT, CAN’T, WON’T, NONE, etc.

Ex: I won’t go to school tomorrow. I don’t understand

Assertion Assertive sentences confirm or express

that something will happen, is true, did happen, etc.

In ASL, assertions are usually signed with a nodding of the head and is often accompanied by a pursed lip. Very often, the sign “WILL” or “TRUE” will be seen.

Ex: OSU will beat Michigan.

ASL is generally a “topic-comment language,” meaning that signers tend to indicate what they want to talk about first (the topic) and then make their statement/question, etc. about that thing (the comment).

In ASL, this is signed by an eyebrow raise and slight tilt while signing the topic, and then a slight pause, and then the comment in signed with appropriate NMGS’s (depending if the comment is a question or a statement)

Ex: I want to go swimming (SWIMMING I WANT TO GO)

A relative clause helps to identify the specific person or thing that is being spoken about. In

ASL, it is signed with it’s own set of grammatical rules. Eyebrows are raised, a backwards head tilt, and often a cheek/lip raise.

Ex: The man with the green shirt is my husband.