WH- questions Yes-No questions Asking questions WH- questions Yes-No questions

ASL and Facial grammar In conversation, English speakers listen to the tone and rise and fall of your voice (intonation). These variations add meaning to the message. In ASL, these variations are shown by facial and body expression. The raised eyebrow, the tilted head, shape of the mouth, etc. shape the meaning of what the signer is saying.

Non-manual signals These variations in ASL are called: a) non-manual signals or NMS b) Non manual grammatical signals or NMGS (another name). Mastery of ASL cannot occur without mastery of facial grammar!

Non-manual signals (NMS) are essential when asking questions in ASL but not all questions are signed the same way! Two major question forms in ASL are: WH – QUESTIONS YES – NO QUESTIONS

WH - QUESTIONS Who? How-many? What? How-much? When? What-time? Where? How-old? Why? What’s-up? How? Which?

WH - QUESTIONS Wh-questions in ASL MUST be accompanied by the following non-manual signals: - Eyebrows lowered - Eyes narrowed - Head tilt **Last sign in question is held, waiting for response.

WH- QUESTIONS 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?)

YOUR NAME WHAT? (English: What is your name?) CLASS BEGIN WHAT-TIME? (English: What time does the class begin?) BATHROOM WHERE? (English: Where’s the bathroom?)

YES-NO QUESTIONS Yes-No questions in ASL are questions that when asked, are responded to by either a “yes” or a “no” answer. Examples: “Are you a student?” “Yes” “Do you have your paper?” “No” “Have you finished eating?” “Yes”

Yes-No Questions in ASL require these non-manual signals: Eyebrows raised Head tilt Eye contact made with the person being asked the question **The last sign in the question is held, waiting for a response.

Wh-Q and Yes-No Question dialogue Wh-Q Response: YOUR NAME WHAT? MY NAME _______ YES-NO Q STUDENT YOU? YES, ME STUDENT Wh-Q TEACHER WHERE? (point) DEAF YOU?` NO, ME HEARING