ASL GRAMMAR AND

STRUCTURE
ASL 1
Unit 1
 DEIXIS
• What is Deixis?
• Pointing using index finger or the 1’’ handshape

• Why do we use Deixis?

• To indicate
• Point to a person or thing if they are in the room
• If the person or thing is not in the room, pick a
side and place them there.
 CLOSING SIGNALS
• What are closing signals?
• Using deixis at the end of the sentence.
• Repeating the pronoun at the end of the sentence.
• Using question marker or WH-face at the end of a sentence.

• Why do we use closing signals?

• To show completion of a train of thought.

• Examples:
• I WANT ICE-CREAM I
• YOU LOOK NICE YOU
 ASL SENTENCE STRUCTURE

• TIME + TOPIC + COMMENT + NEGATION

• English: I am going to the store.
• ASL : STORE I GO I
• English: I am going to the store tomorrow.
• ASL : TOMORROW STORE I GO I
• English : I am not going to the store.
• ASL : STORE I GO NOT
ASL GLOSSING
 WHAT IS “GLOSSING”?

• It is NOT ASL.
• These transcriptions are NOT English or ASL,
but labels to be used to help learn ASL.
• Gloss is usually confined to student use and not
used outside the classroom.
 WHAT DOES ASL GLOSSING
LOOK LIKE?
This line
explains
ASL does not use the type of
“is” like English sentences.

___________y_____________
ASL is
Glossed MY NAME (fs) BARBARA
No English
in ALL
CAPITAL
Shows that punctuation
letters.
something is
fingerspelled

You may also see this done

with dashes. B-A-R-B-A-R-A
 AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENTS

• use “Y” on indictor line

• Sign with a nodding of the head.
• My name is Jocilyn.
• My art book is blue.
• You must go before class.
 NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

• use “N” on indictor line

• Sign with a shaking of the head.
• Negative words; NO, NONE, NEVER,
NOT,
• I do not have a pencil.
 Y/N QUESTIONS

• use “Y/N” on indictor line

• The eyebrows are raised a bit
and the head slightly tilted
forward.
• Do you have a pencil?
 WH QUESTIONS
• use “WH” on indictor line
• The eyebrows are furrowed a bit (squeezed
somewhat together) and the head moved
slightly forward.
• The “WH” word is always the last word you sign.
• Who is your math teacher?
 IT IS YOUR TURN!
GLOSS THESE SENTENCES USING THE RULES WE
JUST COVERED INCLUDING THE LINE DISTINCTION.

1. I live in Jacksonville.
2. Where do you live?
3. It was nice to meet you.
4. You want a hamburger?
5. My car is not blue.
 ON YOUR OWN PAPER, GLOSS THESE
SENTENCES USING THE RULES WE JUST
COVERED INCLUDING THE LINE
DISTINCTION.

• I want to go.
• Do you like ice cream?
• You aren’t nice.
• He showed off his new car.
• What is your sisters name?
• Are you going to the party tomorrow
night?
 GLOSS THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES

• My car is blue.
• My dog’s name is Seamus.
• I don’t have a phone.
• I can’t drive the car.
• My house is average.