1. Complaining, Making Suggestions and Requests
Unit 12
Based on Signing Naturally Level 2, Unit 14
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2. Unit 12 Major Goals
Complain about and respond to ailments & illness, people, and pets
Make and respond to suggestions and requests
Use recurring and continuous time inflections
Use conditional sentences
Use role-shifting and characterization in narratives
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3. Ailments & Illnesses
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4. Pain
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5. Cramps
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6. Cough
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7. Have-a-cold
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8. Sore-throat
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9. Itching, itchy Show scratching on itchy area of the body
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10. Feel-tired
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11. Don’t feel good
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12. Fever / temperature
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13. Swollen (use CL over swollen area, or describe area first)
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14. Toss-and-turn - “didn’t sleep well”
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15. Have-an-upset-stomach, nausea
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16. Vomit
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17. Feel-dizzy
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18. Diarrhea
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19. Redness Show where redness on red part of body
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20. Rash Describe dots on area of body that has the rash
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21. Feel-sore
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22. Feel-lousy
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23. Concern
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24. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you ok?”
“Are you alright?”
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25. Sign at least six different sentences telling about an illness using the format below.
Describe illness
(use chart on right) …
Time
Yesterday
Last month
Saturday
Last year
Last week …
Person Me
(name)
Brother
Aunt
Mom
Cousin
My friend …
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26. Empathy / Sympathy
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27. “No way, really? Oh, that’s too bad”
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28. Awful!
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29. “Wow, too bad.”
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30. “Oh, I know…”
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31. Suggestions (offer advice)
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32. Finish – “did you already try…?”
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33. Why + not - “Why not try…?”
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34. Need – “You should…”
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35. Remedies
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36. Medicine
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37. Take-pill
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38. Spoon-in-medicine
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39. Medicine dropper
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40. Rub-on-lotion
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41. Lie-down, rest
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42. Go see doctor
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43. “Making Suggestions About Health” Dialogue Format
Signer A: Express concern
Signer B: Complain about present condition
Signer A: Show empathy, make suggestion
Signer B: Respond
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44. “Fast Forward…” A game for modifying signs
Everyone stands in a circle
Each person thinks of one sign they like, then take turns signing it.
Now change the sign in the following ways:
Sign it big
Sign it fast
Sign it slow
Sign it low
Sign it high
Sign it small
Repeat it many times
Sign it backwards
Sign it privately
Sign it cheerfully
Sign it sadly
Sign it crazy
Sign it surprised
Sign it angrily
Sign it emphatically
Sign it doubtfully
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45. Recurring and Continuous Inflections
An inflection is a change or modification in the way a sign is moved. When signing about illnesses, symptoms can happen repeatedly or continuously. Use a time sign and modify the movement of a sign for an illness or a symptom to explain how it has affected someone. Use NMS to show intensity or severity.
recurring
continuous
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46. Examples of Recurring/Continuous Inflections #1
uninflected
recurring
continuous
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47. Examples of Recurring/Continuous Inflections #2
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48. Examples of Recurring/Continuous Inflections #3
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49. Always use NMS with inflections!
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50. Time signs: recurring
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51. Every-morning
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52. Every-afternoon
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53. Every-night or evening, nightly
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54. Everyday, daily, “day after day”
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55. Every-week, weekly, “week after week”
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56. Every-month, monthly, “month after month”
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57. Every-hour, hourly, “hour after hour”
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58. Up-until-now often – “It has happened frequently”
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59. Time signs: Continuous
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60. All-morning
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61. All-afternoon
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62. All-night
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63. All-day
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64. All-week
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65. All-month
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66. All-hour, for one entire hour
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67. Uninflected, Continuous or Recurring?
Signing Naturally 2, Unit 14
On the video, you will see 18 sentences, each with an uninflected or inflected verb sign indicating how often the activity has occurred. On the handout, circle which verb form is used in the sentence. Also note how the time signs agree with the inflections.
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68. Translate the following sentences into ASL using recurring or continuous time signs and inflections.
Every afternoon I have a headache.
On Mondays, I’m tired.
I get a cold/runny nose every 3 months or so.
Once a year I get a sore throat.
All afternoon I had a headache.
I was tired all day Monday.
For 3 months I’ve had a cold/runny nose!
For a whole year my throat has been sore.

69. Classifier Practice-“At the Garage” Purpose: Using Classifiers and mime without fingerspelling
For this game, pretend you are in a foreign country. Your car has a problem, and you need to communicate what is wrong, but you can neither speak nor sign to the mechanic. You can use acting, gesturing and handshapes to describe the problem with your car.
Each person gets a card with a car problem. Take turns being the customer and the mechanic until everybody has had a chance to be both. The mechanic shows that he/she understands by facial expression and mimicking or repeating what the customer has described.
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70. “At the Garage” - Car Problems
Turn signals won’t work
One headlight is burned out
Car won’t start
Headlights are very dim at night
Can’t shift into reverse
Horn doesn’t work
Over 50 mph, the car shakes a lot
Sunroof leaks
Engine dies when the car stops moving (stop light, stop sign)
High beam lights don’t work
Engine light showing on the dashboard
Need an oil change, check oil
Water is leaking under the driver’s seat when it rains
Heater doesn’t work; it blows cold air
Car overheated and steam poured out
Windshield wipers won’t turn off
Tire is flat and all tires need to be rotated
Can’t roll window up – it’s stuck
Brakes not working well
Locked keys in car
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71. Complaints, complaining
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72. Tend-to, “have a tendency to…”
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73. Sick-of-it
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74. Always
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75. Stuck, “unsure how, or unable to change a situation”
Example: I don’t know what to do! I work at 8, and I don’t have a ride or money for the bus.
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76. Inflections for Behaviors or Tendencies
Remember: an inflection is a modification of a sign that can show how often something occurs. If a person or pet do something repeatedly or exhibit a certain behavior frequently, the sign will be repeated several times, and an NMS added that illustrates the intent of the behavior.
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77. Annoying pet behaviors
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78. Licking (face)
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79. Shedding
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80. Meowing, yowling
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81. (Pet) Jumping-on-person
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82. Barking
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83. Biting
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84. Annoying children’s behaviors
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85. Spilling
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86. Stealing or taking without permission
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87. Grabbing things
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88. Breaking things
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89. Fighting
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90. Forgetting things Homework? Jacket? Backpack? Brush my teeth?
Clean my room?
Eat my vegetables?
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91. Tattle-tale, “telling on others”
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92. Crying
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93. Screaming
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94. Lying
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95. Arguing
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96. Dropping or leaving things on the floor
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97. Fearful
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98. Complaining
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99. Mischievous, causing-trouble
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100. Annoying partner, spouse or roommate’s behaviors
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101. “Pour money into …”, “Blow money on…”
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102. Goes-out-alot (never home)
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103. Always-late
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104. Always-borrowing-my-stuff
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105. Excessively-clean
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106. Sleeps-in, Over-sleeps-alot
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107. Easily-tempted
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108. Shops or buys-too-much
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109. Worries
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110. Nervous
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111. Takes-my-things
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112. Smokes
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113. Leaves-things-around
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114. Body odor
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115. Back-and-forth-to bathroom
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116. Always-broke
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117. Procrastinates
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118. Annoying friend’s or neighbor’s behaviors
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119. Noisy, loud
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120. Nosy, in-my-business
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121. Bothersome, always-interrupts
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122. Always-comes-over
Comes to my place
Go to their place
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123. Gossips
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124. Which signs would use these NMS?
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125. “Complaing & Making Suggestions” Dialogue Format
Signer A: Complain about:
Pet
Children
Roommate or Partner
Sibling
Neighbor
Signer B: Show empathy, make suggestion
Signer A: Respond
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126. A Good Solution?
Which solution fits the problem? Each student gets a set of a few problem cue cards and the same number of solutions cue cards. Students mingle and complain to each other using the cues on their complaint cards, but are only allowed to give the solutions that are on their cue cards. Students keep signing with others until they have found a reasonable solution to each of their problem cues. Write down the solutions on a separate piece of paper.
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127. A Good Solution? Problem Cues
My sister’s dog always jumps on me when I visit
My little cousin breaks his toys all the time
My siblings and I argue constantly
Cat sheds too much during Summer
My brothers fight all the time
My sister drops clothes all over our room
My dog licks my face every morning
Students always forget to do their homework
Children tend to be afraid of strangers (new people)
Neighbor’s dog barks all night
Babies often grab things
Children tend to whine a lot
Every day my small dog bites my sister when they play
My little sister is always telling on me and my friends
My older brother is really mischievous
My little brother always loses his jacket
Our new baby cries and cries all night
My boy/girlfriend goes out without me on the weekends
Every night my baby sister spills her juice
The neighbor’s kids scream all morning on the weekends
My best friend tends to be late
My siblings keep stealing my things
My brother lies all the time
My sister is constantly borrowing…?
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128. A Good Solution? Problem Cues
My roommate is super clean
The house filthy! My family leaves things everywhere
My boy/girlfriend comes over to my house every weekend
On the weekend my dad sleeps in late
My older brother has stinky body odor
Every afternoon this week I’ve had diarrhea
My boy/girlfriend is always tempted to buy…?
My sister is always in the bathroom.
My whole family has been coughing for 3 days so far
My husband/wife shops too much
My uncle is always broke. He comes over and asks for $
Every afternoon during soccer practice, my stomach cramps
My roommate worries a lot
My best friend procrastinates horribly
Every morning when I get up, I feel dizzy
My husband/wife tends to be nervous
Our neighbors are super loud all night
All day I’ve had a headache
My roommate always takes my stuff
The old lady next door is nosy
For 3 hours I’ve had a rash on my arm
My grandma smokes like a chimney
My siblings annoy me every day
Every year during winter I get a cold
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129. A Good Solution? Solution Cues
Did you try putting your knee up?
Why not take his toys away?
Why not hide in your room so they can’t find you?
Why not brush it more?
Why not teach them to play a sport together?
You should pile the clothes on her bed.
You should grab his tongue and tell him no
They should use a calendar to remember
Why not teach the child to say “Hi”?
You should tell your neighbor you will call the animal control
Give him/her a toy to play with so he/she won’t grab
Have you tried teaching them to say “Please”?
Have you tried giving him a chew toy?
Why not give her candy to keep her quiet?
Maybe he needs to get more exercise
You should tell him to put it in his backpack
Did you try turning the radio on at night when she cries?
Why not break up with him/her?
Why not try a sippy cup (cup with a lid)?
Why not tell them there’s a big monster that will eat them if they are loud?
Have you tried calling and reminding him/her?
Have you tried hiding your things?
You should tell your parents he is lying
Why not tell her to use her own things?
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130. A Good Solution? Solution Cues
Why not enjoy having a clean house?
You should suggest everyone clean up
You should go to his/her house sometimes
Why not let him sleep?
Why not buy him some deoderant and cologne?
Why not take some of that pink liquid medicine?
You should stop giving him/her money
You should use a timer for the bathroom
Have you tried using a humidifier (spell and describe)
You should cut up his/her credit card
Why not tell him you’re broke too?
Maybe you should not eat before practice
Has he/she tried taking a deep breath and relaxing?
Have you asked her why he/she puts things off?
Have you tried drinking more water?
Maybe they should drink less coffee
Did you tell the landlord they are noisy?
Why not take an ibuprofen
Why not put a lock on your bedroom door?
You could smile and wave to her…
Have you tried washing your arm off?
Maybe you should visit her where smoking’s not allowed
Why not pay your siblings to leave you alone?
Maybe you should take vitamins during the winter
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131. Requests
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132. Do-you-mind?
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133. (Will you) postpone?...
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134. Change-to-a-closer-time, sooner, expedite
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135. (Is it) alright?... (Will you) allow?...
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136. (Do I have) permission?...
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137. (Will you) hold/grab-a-place (for someone)?
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138. Directional verbs: Agreement
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139. Tell
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140. Ask
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141. Call (this is an older sign, referring to a TTY call)
Videophone (VP) calls are shown as above. Only occasionally is this sign used as a directional verb.
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142. Give
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143. Inform, let know
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144. Summon “call or bring a person to someone else”
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145. Participate, join
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146. Requests Using Directional Verbs Demonstration Video Clips
Signing Naturally 2, Unit 14

147. Types of Responses to Requests

148. Don’t-mind

149. Alright, permit

150. Can, it’s-possible

151. OK

152. (I will) permit (you to)…

153. Fine

154. Sure

155. Reasons for Requests Need help with tasks
Need to change date or time of plan
Want to ask a favor of a third person
Want to join a group
Need someone to hold your place

156. Types of Responses Agree, with condition (Yes, but…)
Agree, tell shortcomings or problems (Alright, except…)
Decline, tell why (Sorry. No, because…)
Decline, suggest another solution (I can’t. Maybe…)
Hedge (Well…)

157. Making Requests – Situations
“Need Help with Tasks”
You are busy at work and need some papers copied. Your colleague is on the way down to the copy machine. Ask him/her to make copies for you.
Situation 3
“Want to Ask Favor of Third Person”
Last month you lent your mp3 player to your friend Maria. Now you need it back. Ask your friend Joe to ask Maria to return the mp3 player.
Situation 2A
“Need to Change the Date or Time of Plan”
You’ve been planning a camping trip with a friend this weekend. Your car broke down and it was expensive and you don’t have the money to go. Ask your friend to postpone the trip one month.
Situation 4
“Want to Join a Group”
You go to a basketball game and see a group of friends. After chatting with them awhile, ask f you can sit with them.
Situation 2B
“Need to Change Date or Time of Plan”
You plan to go to a movie with a friend for Friday night, but your parents told you that your grandparents are visiting for the weekend. Ask your friend to change the date to earlier in the week.
Situation 5
“Need Someone to Hold Your Place”
You are in a long checkout line at the store. You just remembered you forgot to get one thing. Ask your friend behind you in line if s/he’ll hold your place.

158. Making Requests
Signing Naturally 2, Unit 14
Watch how the signers use directional verbs (agreement) and pronouns. Then fill in the requested information on the handout.

159. Asking To Borrow a Truck
Signing Naturally 2, Unit 14
Use the translation of the conversations on your handout to help you understand what happens between the signers.