ASL 1 Grammar

Fingerspelling

Used for words that don’t have signs or whose signs you’ve forgot

Configuration

The handshakes and smooth transitions letter to letter

Closure

Fill in partial or missing letters based on context

Context

Knowledge of the word, situation, and topic of conversation

Loan Signs

A fingerspelled word missing letters (usually vowels) with special movement used for speed or emphasis

What is the NMS for a loan sign?

None

What is the marker for a loan sign?

# before the Gloss

NMS

What you face and body are doing as you sign

Grammar

Eyebrow and mouth movements

Tone of voice

Emotion and facial expression

Wh Questions

Who, what, when, where, why, how, which questions; sign question last!

What is the marker for a wh question?

_____whq_____

What is the NMS for a wh question?

Eyebrows down

What are the five parts of MOPSE?

Movement, orientation, placement, shape, expression/NMS

What handshape does the sign GIRL use?

Open A

What handshape does the sign WITH use?

A

What handshape does the sign BROWN use?

B

What handshape does the word THANK YOU use?

Open B

What handshape does the sign SANDWICH use?

Bent B

What handshape does the sign CAT use?

F

What handshape does the sign STEAK use?

Open F

What handshape does the sign LATER use?

L

What handshape does the sign MOON use?

Bent L

What handshape does the sign NOTHING use?

O

What handshape does the sign FOOD use?

Flat O

What handshape does the sign LOOK-AT-ME use?

V

What handshape does the sign SNAKE use?

Bent V

What handshape does the sign CELEBRATE use?

AX

What handshape does the sign I-LOVE-YOU use?

L-I

What handshape does the sign TENT use?

1I

What handshape does the sign VEHICLE use?

3

What handshape does the sign BUG use?

Bent 3

What handshape does the sign CONFUSE use?

Claw 5

What handshape does the sign LIKE end with?

8

What handshape does the sign WHAT’S-UP use?

Open 8

What is the closure signal?

Repeating the pronoun at the end of the word to show you’re done signing