American Sign Language (ASL), like standard spoken and written English, is a subject-verb-object (SVO) language. But because ASL uses hand signs, facial expressions, and body movements to show meaning and add emphasis, this structure can change, and the word order can change depending on the intention of the sentence and how familiar the audience is with the topic. You can change the syntax with a shrug, a frown, a smile, a nod, or a turn to the left or right.
For example, ASL must be short and direct, leaving out some spoken grammatical elements, including copular verbs like “be.” These are an unnecessary luxury when all expression must be simple and straightforward. We might say:
“My cat is black.”
Using ASL, we’d say:
“My cat black.”
ASL often introduces the topic at the start of a sentence. This can mean changing the word order from adjective-noun to noun-adjective. In standard spoken English, we might say:
“I have a black cat.”
“Cat black I have.”
Or introducing a topic may require the verb to come before the subject. In standard English, we’d say:
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
“I like to swim.”
In ASL, it’s fine to say:
“Swim, I like.”
When we introduce time into the discussion, it’s brought to the forefront in ASL, resulting in a time-subject-verb-object structure, whereas in spoken or written English, we’d usually leave time until the end of a sentence:
“I fed my cat at 8:30 a.m.”
“8:30 a.m. I fed my cat.”
All these differences and variations allow people who use ASL to understand conversations from the start and communicate effectively by painting pictures with signs.
If you’re looking for help correcting your written grammar, try out a sample of our proofreading and editing services for free.
Δ
9-minute read
Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...
8-minute read
Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...
7-minute read
Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...
4-minute read
Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...
Effective professional communication is an important skill for contractors and freelancers navigating remote work environments....
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...