Overview
This lecture introduces basic American Sign Language (ASL) sentence structure, focusing on the time-topic-comment rule, pronouns, tense, questions, negation, and common mistakes.
ASL vs. English Sentence Structure
- In ASL, objects/topics are set up before adjectives or comments (topic-comment structure).
- English typically puts adjectives before nouns; ASL reverses this order.
Time-Topic-Comment Rule
- ASL sentences usually follow the order: time, topic (subject/object), comment (verb/adjective).
- Time words (e.g., yesterday, next year, every day) always come first if present.
- If no time is specified, a location word or phrase can take its place at the beginning.
- Example: "Next year city big I'm moving" (Next year, I'm moving to a big city).
Pronouns and Indexing
- Identify the person/subject before pointing to represent he/she/they (called indexing).
- Indexing uses your index finger to refer to established individuals in the conversation.
Expressing Tense
- ASL is present tense by default.
- Use "past" and "future/will" signs to show past or future tense.
- "Past" can be placed before or after the verb; "will" typically goes at the end.
Questions in ASL
- Question words (who, what, when, where, why, how) always go at the end of the sentence.
- Example: "You live where?" instead of "Where do you live?"
Negation in ASL
- Negation often uses facial expressions, head-shakes, and body language rather than explicit "not" or "don't" signs.
- Example: For "don't like," show dislike with facial expressions instead of signing "don't."
Handling Complex Sentences
- Use time or location at the start; if both appear, location replaces time if time is absent.
- For multiple locations or more complex information, use rhetorical questions (e.g., "Tomorrow I go school why?").
Common Mistakes
- Beginners often use English word order instead of ASL structure.
- Remember to always place time (or location) first, then topic, then comment.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Topic-Comment — ASL structure that sets up the subject/object first, followed by the description or action.
- Indexing — Using the index finger to point to persons previously established in the conversation.
- Negation — Showing the negative in a sentence, usually with facial expressions and head-shakes in ASL.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice forming ASL sentences using time-topic-comment structure.
- Review and practice question and negation forms in ASL.
- Watch additional ASL lessons for further learning.