SYNTAX
Syntax is the combining of words and signs to create phrases and sentences.
Basic Sentence Types
There are six basic sentence types: questions, negations, commands, topicalization, conditionals and declarative.
Questions can be either Yes-no questions, Wh-questions (who, what, where, when, why and how) or rhetorical questions.
Negations change a sentence from affirmative to negative. In ASL this is sometimes indicated by a shaking of the head from side to side, or possibly, frowning or squinting.
Commands use stresses in English, however, in ASL they use direct eye contact and possible frowning when giving a command.
Topicalization in ASL involves emphasizing information at the beginning of a sentence to indicate the topic of the sentence.
Conditionals are if-then situations. In ASL the "if" and "then" portions of the sentence are separated by the use of an indication through nonmanual signs.
Declaratives are simply statements that convey information.
Here are some examples of a few of the sentence types with glossed sentences:
[Homework 11]
Word Order
In English, the order of words is very important for the meaning of the sign. However, in ASL it is possible to change to the word order and yet obtain the same meaning. This is frequently done through topoicalization and nonmanual signs.
This video shows two sentences, KID LOVE PIZZA and PRO-1 LOSE PAGER, and how the word order can change, yet, the meaning remains.https://uvu.instructure.com/courses/262748/assignments/1254902/submissions/762517?preview=1&rand=966827#
[Homework 13]
Time and Aspect
Tense shows when something occurred and aspect shows how long the situation occurred.
In ASL, tense is represented by the use of space. For example, the signer's body is used as a reference for the present. Leaning back or referring to behind the signer is used to represent the past. Conversely, leaning forward and signing in front of the signer is used to represent the future.
Aspect, in ASL, uses specific movements to represent aspects such as: over and over; for a prolonged period of time, continually, regularly, about to, etc. Among these movements can be a spiral or a zig-zag movements.
For example, walking, talking, and texting can be expressed as being done continually; eating, reading, and running can be expressed as something done regularly; and studying, sleeping and watching TV can be expressed as something done for a prolonged period of time.
[Homework 14]
Indicating Verbs
There are three main categories of verbs in ASL: plain, indicating and depicting. The focus here will be on indicating verbs. These verbs move toward specific people, objects, or spatial locations. In doing so additional information about the subject ad object of the sentence are incorporated. Here are some examples and an English sentence that it can be used it:
[Homework 15]
Basic Sentence Types
There are six basic sentence types: questions, negations, commands, topicalization, conditionals and declarative.
Questions can be either Yes-no questions, Wh-questions (who, what, where, when, why and how) or rhetorical questions.
Negations change a sentence from affirmative to negative. In ASL this is sometimes indicated by a shaking of the head from side to side, or possibly, frowning or squinting.
Commands use stresses in English, however, in ASL they use direct eye contact and possible frowning when giving a command.
Topicalization in ASL involves emphasizing information at the beginning of a sentence to indicate the topic of the sentence.
Conditionals are if-then situations. In ASL the "if" and "then" portions of the sentence are separated by the use of an indication through nonmanual signs.
Declaratives are simply statements that convey information.
Here are some examples of a few of the sentence types with glossed sentences:
- Negation: FATHER ENTER OPEN-DOOR TWO-OF-US SEE HIM n
- Declarative: ME GO GALLAUDET, HE GO DEAF INSTITUTE
- Question: YOU BIG JOHN q
- Topicalization: SIGNING DETEST t
[Homework 11]
Word Order
In English, the order of words is very important for the meaning of the sign. However, in ASL it is possible to change to the word order and yet obtain the same meaning. This is frequently done through topoicalization and nonmanual signs.
This video shows two sentences, KID LOVE PIZZA and PRO-1 LOSE PAGER, and how the word order can change, yet, the meaning remains.https://uvu.instructure.com/courses/262748/assignments/1254902/submissions/762517?preview=1&rand=966827#
[Homework 13]
Time and Aspect
Tense shows when something occurred and aspect shows how long the situation occurred.
In ASL, tense is represented by the use of space. For example, the signer's body is used as a reference for the present. Leaning back or referring to behind the signer is used to represent the past. Conversely, leaning forward and signing in front of the signer is used to represent the future.
Aspect, in ASL, uses specific movements to represent aspects such as: over and over; for a prolonged period of time, continually, regularly, about to, etc. Among these movements can be a spiral or a zig-zag movements.
For example, walking, talking, and texting can be expressed as being done continually; eating, reading, and running can be expressed as something done regularly; and studying, sleeping and watching TV can be expressed as something done for a prolonged period of time.
[Homework 14]
Indicating Verbs
There are three main categories of verbs in ASL: plain, indicating and depicting. The focus here will be on indicating verbs. These verbs move toward specific people, objects, or spatial locations. In doing so additional information about the subject ad object of the sentence are incorporated. Here are some examples and an English sentence that it can be used it:
- SPIT-OUT: I spit the tobacco out the window
- TURN-AND-LOOK-AT: The teacher turned around and looked at us.
- LOOK-AT-EACH-OTHER: My classmates and I looked at each other.
- FLYING-OUT:I kept spitting tobacco and it kept flying out the window.
- STARE: Dr. Bill stormed into the classroom and stared at us.
[Homework 15]