ASL Sentence Structure: The Basics

Lesson Four

Unit Two: Getting to Know You

American Sign Language I

Topic-Comment Sentence Structure

• American Sign Language uses different grammatical structures depending upon what is being talked about.

• One such structure is called topic-comment sentence structure or object-subject-verb (OSV) sentence structure.

• Example: STORE ME GO

Topic-Comment Sentence Structure (continued)

• In topic-comment sentence structure, the signer presents information and then makes the information either a statement or a question by adding a comment.

• English does not use topic-comment sentence structure so becoming used to ASL grammar can be a challenge.

• Keep in mind that while using ASL signs in English word order may be easy to do, it is no different that speaking in Spanish but following English word order – you won’t make sense in either language.

Subject-Object-Verb (OSV) Sentence Structure

• This is the grammatical sentence structure used in English.

• This is used in simple sentences in ASL, such as STORE ME GO can be signed as ME GO STORE (I am going to the store).

Rhetorical Sentence Structure• The rhetorical in ASL uses the WH-Signs but

with the YES/NO Face instead of the WH-Face.

• You are indicating to the signer that you know the answer.

• After signing the WH-Sign, you will continue the sentence by answer the WH-question you posed in the first half of the sentence.

“AND / OR” ASL Sentence Structures

• OR indicates WHICH– Keeping in line with Topic-Comment Sentence

Structure, you would sign the choices first and then sign WHICH

• AND indicates BOTH– Again, keeping in line with Topic-Comment

Sentence Structure, you would sign the choices first and then sign BOTH.

Sample Sentences of Each Sentence Structure

• English Sample Sentence:– I am going to the store to buy more milk.

• Topic-Comment Sentence Structure:– MILK RUN-OUT STORE ME GO BUY

• Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) Sentence Structure:– CANNOT BE USED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE

SENTENCE.

• Rhetorical Sentence Structure:– ME GO STORE WHY BUY MORE MILK

Sample Sentences of Each Sentence Structure (continued)

• English Sample Sentence:– I am going to the store to buy more milk and bread.

• AND Sentence Structure:– ME STORE GO. ME BUY MILK BREAD BOTH.

• English Sample Sentence:– Are you going to the store to buy milk or orange juice?

• OR Sentence Structure:– YOU GO STORE YOU? YOU BUY MILK ORANGE #J

WHICH?

Homework Exercises• 3C p. 91: You’ve been asked to help a friend of yours

this coming weekend, but you’re unable to help due to several reasons. Practice signing why you can’t help using topic-comment sentence structure, SVO sentence structure, and Rhetorical sentence structure. Refer to at least five different reasons.

• 4B p. 97: You want to get to know someone better. Develop three questions using the “AND/OR” Sentence Structures. Prepare to ask your classmate each question.

• Due on Thursday, November 11, 2010.