ASL Sentence Structure or Time/Tense Topic Comment or Question The time frame you’re talking About (We’ll do this when you learn time) Who or what you’re really talking about What you want to say or know about the topic

Statements How? 1 – Eyebrows up for topic 2 – Eyebrows neutral for statement 3 – Lean forward slightly Examples: English = I don’t know German. Topic? German What about it? I don’t know it ASL = German I don’t know English = I forgot your name. Your name Topic? What about it? I forgot it ASL = Your name I forgot

Questions WH - Questions that use: Who, why, where, when, which, (how) How? 1 – Eyebrows up for topic 2 – Eyebrows down for question word 3 – Hold the last sign (usually the question word) 4 – Lean forward slightly Examples: English = Where is my paper? Topic? My paper What do you want to know? Where is it? ASL = My paper where? English = Who is that man? Topic? That man What do you want to know? Who is he? ASL = That man who?

Questions Yes/No Questions wherein the answer is either yes or no How? 1 – Eyebrows up for topic 2 – Eyebrows up for question word 3 – Hold the last sign (usually “you,” sometimes the squiggly question) 4 – Lean forward slightly Examples: English = Are you a girl? Topic? You What do you want to know? A girl? ASL = You girl you? English = Do you think ASL is fun? Topic? ASL What do you want to know? Is it fun? ASL = ASL you think fun you?

Rhetorical - A question the signer intends to answer him/herself. ASL usually uses these for emphasis or in place of the word “because.” For example: I study why? I want good grades. How? 1 – Eyebrows up for “question” 2 – Eyebrows neutral for “answer” 3 – Lean forward slightly Examples: English = My last name is Anderson “Question?” My last name “Answer?” It’s Anderson ASL = My last name what? Anderson English = My dog’s name is Ella. “Question?” My dog’s name what? “Answer?” Ella ASL = My dog name what? Ella

Parameters of ASL 1 2 3 4 Location Movement Palm Orientation Handshape - Where the sign is made Movement - How the sign moves Palm Orientation - The direction the hand faces Handshape - Shape of the hand

1 2 3 1-Handed Signs 2-Handed Symmetrical Signs 2-Handed Asymmetrical

Signer’s Perspective -The Signer signs just as he/she sees things. This may mean the observer may have to mentally switch direction. - Think “signer’s right = my right” 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Tic-Tac-Toe! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9