Hey signers! If you have followed any of our videos before you know that ASL is not signs in English
order. It has its own rules. This grammar lesson is actually straight from our Accelerated program.
I'll share a little bit more about that later but for now let's learn how to sign ASL grammar.
Now what I want you to understand is that ASL is not English, so whenever I'm going to teach you
these sentences I am putting them in ASL order. You're going to learn how to do this throughout
this course. So, when you're doing topic-comment structure you need to look at the English sentence
and ask what is the topic of the sentence and then what am I commenting on or asking about. You'll
notice that our wh-sentences and yes/no sentences go off of a topic-comment structure. So let's
take an example and look at what we mean by topic- common structure. The sentence, I live in Texas. What
is the topic of that sentence? Well, the topic is 'to live' and the comment is where do I live, in Texas.
So you'd structure the sentence in 'me' who we're talking about 'live Texas me.'
Now not only am I signing that structure, I'm also doing something with my non-manual signals as well.
'Me live Texas me.' Notice I'm going to pause and then affirm that that is where I live.
Now if I'm negating something then I'd negate it at the end. Okay let's look at the sentence,
My favorite vacation was Hawaii. So, what is the topic of that sentence?
The main topic is the 'vacation' and I am commenting that my favorite vacation was Hawaii.
So, we would sign it 'vacation favorite Hawaii.' Notice there was a pause and then whenever I
signed Hawaii, I affirmed it because I was saying that vacation that was my favorite
is Hawaii. Let's move on to, Once I'm finished with work I'm going to school. So, this is a two-part
What's happening here? What is the main topic? Well, first the main topic is 'work' and then 'I finish' it.
Then what do I do? 'School', 'I am going' to. So this is what it would look like
'Me work finish school go me.'
Notice there was a pause between the word finish and school. One thought happened and then I
responded and I commented what was happening after I finished at work. Okay, let's take a
few sentences of 'wh,' 'yes/no, and 'topic-comment' and break them down. How would we sign, Are you hungry?
'You hungry you?'
Notice it required a yes/no response, so our eyebrows went up and we leaned forward.
Also that closing signal at the end pointing back. Are you hungry? What about the sentence,
Where did you grow up? What is the topic and then what are you asking about? 'You grow up where you?'
Then how would you respond? 'Grow up' and then the place 'Texas me' or you could sign 'grow up
Texas, what about you?' And those eyebrows go down because I'm asking where did you grow up.
Okay now take the quiz to check your understanding. If you found this video
valuable, let us know down in the comments. This lesson was straight from our ASL 101
course which is only available to our Learn How to Sign Accelerated members. Accelerated is a paid
membership that will guide you with structured lessons in vocabulary and grammar and challenge
you with activities and quizzes all supported by a community of other signers just like you.
For more information on Accelerated and info on a special offer because you made it to the end
of this video, click the link in the description and until next time keep learning how to sign 🤟