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Hi! I am Studyfin, your ASL tutor. Today, we will discover how your face actually acts as the grammar in American Sign Language!
In spoken English, we change our tone of voice to ask a question. In American Sign Language (ASL), you use your face instead of your voice to show grammar.
When you ask a 'Yes or No' question in ASL, you must raise your eyebrows and tilt your head slightly forward. This facial expression tells the watcher that you are waiting for a yes or no answer.
For 'Wh-Questions' like who, what, where, or why, the rule changes. You must furrow your eyebrows downward and tilt your head slightly forward to show you are seeking specific information.
Let us analyze a real case. If you sign 'YOU LUNCH EAT' with flat eyebrows, it is just a statement. If you raise your eyebrows, it instantly translates to: 'Did you eat lunch?'
Analyze the following scenario: Maria is signing to her friend. She signs 'YOUR NAME' while furrowing her eyebrows. Decide if her grammar is correct, and justify your conclusion using ASL grammar rules.
- Identify the type of sentence Maria is signing. 'YOUR NAME' is a question asking 'What is your name?', which is a Wh-question.
- Recall the ASL grammatical rule for Wh-questions. Wh-questions require eyebrows to be furrowed (lowered) and the head tilted forward.
- Analyze Maria's actual facial expression. The scenario states she furrowed her eyebrows.
- Compare her expression to the grammatical rule. Furrowed eyebrows match the rule for Wh-questions perfectly.
- Formulate a final justification: Maria's grammar is correct because 'YOUR NAME' is a Wh-question, and she correctly used lowered eyebrows to signal this grammatical structure.
