Comparison of English and ASL Sentence Structures: ASL Grammar Rules, Study notes of English

Download Comparison of English and ASL Sentence Structures: ASL Grammar Rules and more Study notes English in PDF only on Docsity! 1 American Sign Language Grammar Rules Twelveth Draft: January 2008 by Kevin Struxness, MA Declarative Sentence Structures English: Subject-Verb-Object I love apple pie. ASL: Subject-Verb-Object I love apple pie. Subject-Verb-Object-Subject I love apple pie I. Object-Subject-Verb Apple pie I love. Verb-Object-Subject Love apple pie I. Object-Verb-Subject Apple pie love I. Interrogative Type: Yes/No Questions Symbol --- Q --- (1) raised eyebrows, 2) tilted or diagonal head with shoulders forward and 3) hold the last sign a little longer)) -- ----------- q ------------- English: Do you want some ice cream? ASL: 1) You want ice cream? (Delete “Do”) -------------- q ------------- 2) Ice cream you want some? --- q -- Are you deaf? You deaf? (Delete “Are”) ---------- q ---------- Have you met Alexander Graham Bell? You finish meet AGB? (Delete “Have”) We use “have” for possession. ---------- q ---------- Have you been there? You finish touch there? I have a question for you. (Sign a question mark in the air.) Interrogative Type: Wh-Questions (who, what, where, why, how, which, how many, how much) Symbol --- WQ --- (with squeezed eyebrows and tilted or diagonal head) ---- wq ---- English: What time is it? ASL: 1) What time? -- wq - 2) Time? ---------- wq --------- Who is Laurent Clerc? 1) Who Laurent Clerc? Note: if you place who at the beginning, use the non-manual markers from the beginning to the end. -wq - 2) Laurent Clerc who? Note: if you place who at the end, adopt the non-manual markers only at the location of who ------------- wq ------------ 3) Who Laurent Clerc who? Note: if you use a double wh-question, use the non-manual markers from the beginning to the end. 2 Exception: ----- q --- English: How are you? ASL: How you? (This is intended to start a conversation) ----------- q ------------- Why don’t we go to the movies? Why not we go movie? (In a state of excitement) --- q ---- Who won the game? Who won? (With strong curiosity) -------- q -------- Where did you find it? Where you find? (In a state of happiness) ---- q ----- --- q ---- Why not? Why not? Or, why-not? (In a state of excitement, not asking for an - explanation) Note: If you use Wh-words for a non-Wh-question function, you keep your facial expression in a neutral manner ASL: I know where Bob work. Mother know what I want. Rhetorical Questions (who, what, where, why, how, how many, what for, how much) Symbol --- RQ --- with raised eyebrows and head tilted down or diagonally. This type of question is used for someone to answer their own questions. It should not be used too much. As a general rule, use the RQ every 15-25 sentences. Many ASL users sign “why” in the RQ mode as a substitution for “because”. -- rq -- English: I had pancakes for breakfast. ASL: I breakfast what? pancake. -- rq -- Larry became deaf from a bout of spinal meningitis. Larry become deaf how? spinal meningitis - n - - rq - Mother could not come because she was sick. Mother not come why? she sick. Although this type of question deals with the Wh questions most of the time, the rhetorical question can be used for a yes/no question, too. --- rq ---- - y - Do I want to go? Yes, I want to go. Want go I ? Yes, I want go. Exclamation This situation occurs when someone is excited, surprised or even angry. They increase intensity in signing as well as sign faster. Sometimes they nod their head. English: The San Diego Padres won! ASL: San Diego Padres won! Good! Good! I passed the class! I pass class! He kicked me! He kick me! . Affirmatives Symbol --- y --- (head nodding) - y - English: Tom can sign ASL. ASL: Tom can sign ASL. ------ y ------------ Tom can sign ASL. (This is permissible if the sentence is very brief.) 5 Exception: 1) Self pronouns can function as linking verbs. Example: She herself student. 2) Become can function as a to-be verb. Example: I become sick. 3) Use “past/before” for the past tense “was/were” 4) Use “future/will” for “will be” 5) Use “now/present” for “am/is/are” Modals (Helping/Auxiliary Verbs) (need to, should, must, can, would, might, could) Note: In ASL, a modal can be placed either before or after a main verb, or both (for emphasis). English: You should get an interpreter. ASL: 1) You should get interpreter. 2) You get interpreter should. 3) You should get interpreter should. (for emphasis) Present Tense Note: ASL uses present tense verbs for both past and present tenses. English: My mother received a hearing dog. ASL: Mother finish get hearing dog. I wanted to know if I can leave now. I want know if I can leave now. I had breakfast this morning. This morning I have breakfast. Exception: born, broke, caught, forgot, got, left, lost, saw, sold, told, won, fed up, shot, wrote, stole, tore English: I saw you. ASL: I saw you. I was born in Utah. I born there Utah. / I born Utah. Noun Plural/Present Tense Verb/Participial Endings Note: While English verbs are regularly conjugated to show tense and number, ASL has no endings and modified verbs. Inflection markers are usually omitted. English: Kathy wants to go to NTID. ASL: Kathy want go NTID. You look surprised. You look surprise. They came here recently. Recent they come. The parents have three children. Parent++ have three child++. nightly; weekly every-night; every-week shops shop++ normally, naturally normal, natural read slowly read slow, read-slow (sign “read” slowly)- add a hyphen fruits including watermelon fruit include watermelon Northern California North California Best Western Best Western (no change for formal names) Exception: 1) Any words with permanent -s, or -es markers (i.e., United States, scissors, pants, glasses, clothes, physics, always, politics, gymnastics). 2) Also adjectives/adverbs/nouns with permanent -ing or -ly markers (i.e., outstanding, friendly, rubbing alcohol, measuring cup, baking soda, whipped cream, pudding, frosting, shortening.) 3) Did is an accepted modified verb. Fingerspell “it” only. Example: I did show up. 6 Infinitives Note: 1) ASL does not have infinitives. 2) Delete the to infinitive marker in combination with a verb. English: They need to complete the task ASL: They need finish job. The kids want to play. They kid want play Exception: have to (use the sign for “must” while mouthing “have” and then fingerspell “to” while mouthing “to”. Technically, “have to” is not an infinitive. Present Participles English: Bob keeps thinking. ASL: Bob continue think++. Stop eating. Eat ++ stop. Get English: The dog gets better. ASL: Dog become better. Or, dog better. They got married. They finish marry. Directional Verbs Note: 1) Only certain verb signs can be moved in any direction. Examples: look, send, pay, meet, give, bring, move, help, tell, show, call, ask, throw, drive, teach. 2) Some verb signs have limited movement in direction. Examples: go, come. 3) Non-directional verbs include: complain, read, discuss, eat, want, play, need, say, live, feel. English: I will meet you at the deaf club. ASL: I-meet-you there/at deaf #club (clb). (Note: Use hyphens to combine words into one sign.) ----- cc ---- When I sign, you should look at my face. When I sign, you-look-me my face should. Noun-Verb Pairs with a Change in Movement Note: A noun sign requires multiple movements. A verb sign requires one movement. Note: Sentences below are in ASL. Help yourself. (once for a verb) I need your help (tap several times for a noun). Tea taste good. (once for a verb) You have good taste with clothes. (several times for a noun) You work fast (once for an adverb) The speed is slow (several times for a noun) Sixty minute equal one hour (once for a verb) We like equality (several times for a noun) Exception: Clean-up/clean (verb) requires multiple movements. Clean (adjective) requires one movement. 7 Noun-Verb/Adjective Pairs with No Change in Movement Advertisement Advertise Advice Advise Entertainment Entertain Enjoyment Enjoy Introduction Introduce Communication Communicate Interest Interesting Observation Observe Active Voice/Passive Voice Note: There is no passive voice in ASL. Exception: make/build by (The garage build by father), write by (The book write by Paul.) English: My house was sold by the realtor. ASL: Realtor sold my house finish. I was told by someone. Someone told me. This animal is called barn owl. Point-index-finger animal call barn owl. Bill is survived by his wife, Tammy. Bill die, but his wife Tammy still live Abbreviated Verbs English can have full verb spelling or abbreviated verbs such as can not or can’t. This is also true for ASL with a notable exception. -- n -- English: We can not do that. ASL: We can’t do that. Time Indicators/Tense Markers Note: In many cases, you need to place time indicators at the beginning of the sentence to set up the tense AND raise eyebrows. This rule applies to past, present and future tenses. If there is no time indicator in the sentence, the listener would assume the present tense. Symbol --- TI --- (with raised eyebrows) --- ti --- English: We visited Deaf West Theatre yesterday. ASL: Yesterday we visit Deaf West Theatre. --- ti --- Gallaudet University opened in 1864. Back 1864 Gallaudet University open. ---- ti ---- We will leave tomorrow. Tomorrow we leave. Exception: We must study for a test next week. We must study for test next week. I have an appointment for tomorrow. I have appointment for tomorrow. See you later/tomorrow. See you later/tomorrow. (The sentence is very brief) I worked three hours I work three hour. We attend a NAD conference every two years. We attend NAD conference every-two-year. (Frequency) Note: Replace “in” or “on” with “past” or “future”. English: In 1966… ASL: Past/back 1966… In 2015… Future 2015… In the morning… This morning or during morning This past week Last-week On Thursday Thursday, Last Thursday, This Thursday, Next Thursday On March 1 March 1st, Last March 1st, This March 1st, Next March 1st 10 Half and Half Half Half (move right) short and sweet short, sweet (both take one-time sign movement) A T & T ATT (move right) Abbreviations Note: No periods in abbreviated words with the exception of an initialized middle name and the U.S. Example: John F. Kennedy. The fingerspelled letter with a period is moved in a circle. Exception: We don’t move around the hand while fingerspelling Mrs. or Dr. (okay to have a period) English: My Riverside friend hopes to go to NTID. ASL: My Riverside friend hope go NTID. Two generations of that deaf family have gone to ASDB. Two generation deaf family go ASDB. Note: NTID = National Technical Institute for the Deaf in New York; ASDB = Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind. Months of Year: Jan, Feb, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec. The short month names are spelled out in full: March, April, May, June and July Possessives English: My dog’s name is Salsa. ASL: My dog’s name Salsa My sister’s name is Brenda. My sister her name Brenda. Mother’s Day, Lion’s Club, Valentine’s Day Mother Day, Lion Club, Valentine Day (without the apostrophe) Levi’s Levis (without the apostrophe) Driver’s license Drive license (without the apostrophe and “r”) Exception: You cannot delete an apostrophe from proper names. Ex: Denny’s, Carl’s Jr., Coco’s There is/There are Note: These phrases, not available in ASL, are expressed with the existential have. English: There is a book on the shelf. ASL: 1) Shelf-there have book. 2) Book have shelf-there. There is a big sale at Sears Sears have big sale. Intensifiers (very, quite, rather, more, most, really, somewhat, less, too, pretty) Note: 1 ) Hyphen is substitute for “very” which doesn’t really belong in ASL. When you imply “very”, you need to gain strength and speed in the adjective sign along with an increase in the facial expression. Two words become one word. 2) Another option is to sign “wow”, “real/really” or “too much/extreme” 3) Fingerspell “too” English: I was very sick last week. ASL: Last week I very-sick . Death Valley is pretty hot in the summer. During summer, Death Valley wow hot. The pie is too sweet for me. Pie too sweet for me. 11 Topicalization (Topic-Comment construction) Symbol --- T --- with raised eyebrows and raised head Note: 1) In most cases, place the main idea at the beginning of the ASL sentence. 2) We can’t have more than one topic marker in one sentence. -- t -- English: I am a member of the NAD (National Association of the Deaf). ASL: NAD me member. -- t -- -- ti ---- The World Games of the Deaf took place in Los Angeles in 1985. WGD past 1985, happen there LA. Lexical-Based Signs or Fingerspelled Loan Signs Note: 1) There are about 75 signs that involve modified fingerspelling and are indicated by the pound sign[#]. Examples: #job, #bank, #busy, #early, #ng [no good], #back, #or, #car, #oh, #gas, #bus, #ha, etc. 2) The pound sign is not used for spelling names, etc. English: The TTY is not any good. ASL: TTY #ng. You did an outstanding job. You outstanding #job. ---- wq -- What can I do? Me #do-do? Pronominalization Note: 1) Pronouns are expressed by pointing at a person or an object. 2) If the person or the object is not present, decide where you want to point and keep the same place as a referent throughout the conversation. English: Bob was a great guy. I miss him. ASL: Bob he-right great guy. I miss him-right. Reflexive Pronouns Note: Reflexive pronouns can function as either pronouns or linking verbs. English: Kip is a coda (child of deaf adults). ASL: Kip himself coda. She is a dod (deaf child of deaf adults). Herself dod. Proper Nouns in Direct Address Note: ASL does not use the person’s name during direct address. ----- q ----------- English: Bill, can you see me? ASL: Hey, can you see me? Comparatives/Superlatives English: A gorilla is larger than a monkey. ASL: 1) Gorilla larger than monkey. 2) Gorilla more large than monkey. 3) For body size, Gorilla beat monkey. Shaq is not the tallest player in the NBA. Shaq not tallest player NBA. Tom walks faster. Tom walk faster or Tom walk more fast. Tom runs fastest. Tom run fastest or most fast. 12 Preposition Note: Sometimes we need to leave out prepositions. As a general rule, keep prepositions only for location. English: Class of 2005 ASL: Class 2005 Mother-in-law Mother law Take care of yourself Take-care yourself 90% of the time, most of the time 90% time, most time I am not afraid of the snake. I not afraid snake. The pain is in my mouth. Pain mouth (sign “pain” at the mouth) I am proud of you. I proud you. See you on Monday. See you Monday. Coldest place in the world Coldest place world/coldest place world Not my cup of tea Not my cup tea She gave a birth to a son She born son Peace of mind peace mind On Thursday Next, this, last Thursday On September 10 Next, this, last Sept 1 Mary of Fallbrook Mary from Fallbrook or Mary live Fallbrook or Mary her home Fallbrook Pat, 26, died of cancer Pat old 26 die from cancer Note: Prepositions are embedded in classifiers. English: The book is under the table. ASL: Table CL:B Book CL:B-under The cat is sitting on the hood. Car CL:3 cat CL:V-sit Note: Replace “in” and “at” with an index finger for specifying place without a roof or a cover.. English: We saw our aunt in Riverside. ASL: We saw our aunt there Riverside. See you at the park. See you there park. Fingerspelled “It” ASL: Forget it Worth it Do it Make it Go for it In other cases, we also discard “it” in commonly used phrases. English: Take it easy ASL: Take easy or Take-easy It is Friday. Today Friday Compound Note: In most cases, the repetitive movement is reduced to one-time movement for the first part of the compound glosses. Examples: Bookstore Boy Scout Peanut butter (In this case, each sign is moved once.) Boy and girl (In this case, each sign is moved once.) Self Note: The “self” sign is normally moved several times. However, the movement can be one-time movement for command or for emphasis. Examples: You bring chair yourself! (command) I can cook myself! (for emphasis)