ASL Sentence Structure The Basics I TopicComment Sentence

ASL Sentence Structure: The Basics I

Topic-Comment Sentence Structure • American Sign Language uses different grammatical structures depending upon what is being talked about. • One such structure is called topiccomment sentence structure or objectsubject-verb (OSV) sentence structure. • Example: STORE ME GO

Topic-Comment Sentence Structure (continued) • In topic-comment sentence structure, the signer presents information and then makes the information either a statement or a question by adding a comment. • English does not use topic-comment sentence structure so becoming used to ASL grammar can be a challenge. • Keep in mind that while using ASL signs in English word order may be easy to do, it is no different that speaking in Spanish but following English word order – you won’t make sense in either language.

Subject-Object-Verb (OSV) Sentence Structure • This is the grammatical sentence structure used in English. • This is used in simple sentences in ASL, such as STORE ME GO can be signed as ME GO STORE (I am going to the store).

Rhetorical Sentence Structure • The rhetorical in ASL uses the WH-Signs but with the YES/NO Face instead of the WH-Face. • You are indicating to the signer that you know the answer. • After signing the WH-Sign, you will continue the sentence by answer the WH-question you posed in the first half of the sentence.

“AND / OR” ASL Sentence Structures • OR indicates WHICH – Keeping in line with Topic-Comment Sentence Structure, you would sign the choices first and then sign WHICH • AND indicates BOTH – Again, keeping in line with Topic-Comment Sentence Structure, you would sign the choices first and then sign BOTH.

Sample Sentences of Each Sentence Structure • English Sample Sentence: – I am going to the store to buy more milk. • Topic-Comment Sentence Structure: – MILK RUN-OUT STORE ME GO BUY • Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) Sentence Structure: – CANNOT BE USED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE SENTENCE. • Rhetorical Sentence Structure: – ME GO STORE WHY BUY MORE MILK

Sample Sentences of Each Sentence Structure (continued) • English Sample Sentence: – I am going to the store to buy more milk and bread. • AND Sentence Structure: – ME STORE GO. ME BUY MILK BREAD BOTH. • English Sample Sentence: – Are you going to the store to buy milk or orange juice? • OR Sentence Structure: – YOU GO STORE YOU? YOU BUY MILK ORANGE #J WHICH?