ASL and nonmanual signals (facial grammar):
ASKING QUESTIONS

nWhen you listen to someone speak, you listen to the tone and rise and fall of their voice (intonation). These variations add meaning to the message.  nn 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.  These are called NONMANUAL SIGNALS OR NMS.

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Mastery of ASL cannot occur without mastery of facial grammar.

Nonmanual signals 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

1) Wh-questions:
 

Who?    What?    When?    Where?    Why?    How?    What's-up?    How?    How-Many?    How-old? 

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

In ASL the wh-question is often located at the END of the sentence.
*    YOUR ASL TEACHER WHO?
*    SCHOOL YOU GO WHERE?
*    BATHROOM WHERE?

2) Yes/No Questions in ASL

nYes/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”

Yes/No-questions in ASL MUST be accompanied by the following nonmanual markers

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