Nonmanual Signals

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• Non-manual Signals
• ?

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Nonmanual signals are essential when asking
questions in ASL.

• But not all questions are signed the same way!

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Two major question forms in ASL

• Wh-Questions
• Yes/No Questions

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Wh-questions

• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why
• (How)

• Wh-questions in ASL MUST be accompanied by
  the following nonmanual markers
• Eyebrows lowered
• Eyes narrowed
• Slight head tilt
• Last sign is held, waiting for response

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In ASL the wh-question is often located at the
END of the sentence.

• YOUR ASL TEACHER WHO?(English Who is your ASL
  teacher?)
• SCHOOL YOU GO WHERE?(English Where do you go to
  school?)
• BATHROOM WHERE?(English Where is the bathroom?)

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YES/NO QUESTIONS

• Yes/No questions in ASL are questions that when
  asked, are responded to by either a yes or a
  no.
• Examples
• Are you a student? Yes
• Do you have your paper? No
• Have you finished eating? Yes

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Yes/No questions in ASL require these non-manual
signals

• Eyebrows are RAISED
• Head is tilted slightly forward
• Eye contact is made with the person being asked
  the question
• The last sign is held, waiting for a response.

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Wh-Q and Yes/No question dialogue.

• Wh-Q
• YOUR NAME WHAT?
• Yes/No QSTUDENT YOU?
• Wh-QTEACHER WHERE?
• Yes/No QTEACHER NICE?

• ResponseMY NAME______
• YES, ME STUDENT.
• (point)
• YES, TEACHER NICE