What differentiates a statement from a question?

Some components of language…GrammarStructureVocabularyContent Intent

Grammar

In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.

Discuss with your table group

Is English a natural language?Is ASL a natural language?Do English and ASL have grammar?

The answers:Is English a natural language?Is ASL a natural language?Do English and ASL have grammar?

YesYesYes

Yes/No questionsIt’s all in the grammar

What is a Yes/no question?Discuss this with your table group

Yes/no questionA question which is answered with a “yes” or

a “no”.

EnglishHow does English ask Yes/no questions?How does English make a statement?

Written and spoken

Discuss this with your table group, how do you know a question from a statement?

Using English examples

When we speak English: How do we know it is a question?

When we write English: How do we know it is a question?

English

Speak it- with voice inflection.Write it- with punctuation.

ASLHow would you guess ASL asks Yes/no

questions if we do not use voice inflection or write it?Brainstorm with your table group.

ShareWhat did your table group guess?

Of course…It’s visual

But where do you see it?

Eyebrows Structure Sign

So now let’s comparean ASL statement and an ASL Yes/no question.

With your table group try these on.

Do you understand?You do understand.

ASL Statements

Grammar:Affirmation

ASL statementsTry these with a partner:

I can fingerspell.I finished my homework.I know you.Bob understands.Jay has homework.

ASL Yes/no questionsGrammar:

Eyebrows upTilt headLean forwardOmit words

WHAT? Omit words?Omit : Do, Does, Is, Are…

Look at this:Do you like me? Q signDoes Tom know you? Q sign

Try these with Q wiggle:

Is this yours?Is your homework finished?

But not theseCan you fingerspell? Will you practice? Future tenseDid you do your homework? Past tense

In these examples the subject is restated at the end. FINGERSPELL ME CAN ME? PRACTICE YOU WILL YOU? YOUR HOMEWORK YOU FINISH YOU?

Try these…Do you have ASL class? You have ASL class.Could I copy you?I can copy you.

Practice List 1 I like you.Do you like me?Did Ted finish his homework?Ted finished his homework.I like my school.Do you like your school?

Practice List 2Do you have my homework?You have my homework.My teacher knows your teacher.Does your teacher know my teacher?I know.Do you know?

Journal EntryWhat did you learn about grammar today?Does it make sense to compare English and

ASL? How does it help? Or not?Do you feel like you can effectively express

an ASL question? How comfortable are you? What are you still confused about?At this point in your ASL experience,

speculate how easy or difficult you believe learning ASL will be for you? Why?