Questions in ASL

Questions in ASL: WH-Q, Y/N Q, and Rhetorical Questions

1.    Asking A Question in ASL

A question word always goes at the end of the sentence.

·         WH-Question: What, Where, When, Why, Who, +How

·         Yes/No Question

WH-Questions:

• Furrowed Eyebrows/Eyebrows Down
• Lean forward slightly
• Tilt head slightly  
• Hold expression until question is answered
• You only need to use the expression when you reach the question part of the sentence.

                      __WH__

YOUR NAME, WHAT? – What’s your name?

Yes/No Questions:

• Eyebrows Raised/Up
• Lean forward slightly
• Tilt head slightly
• Hold expression until question is answered
• You only need to use the expression when you reach the question part of the sentence.

Yes/No Questions

 Examples:
                           ___Y/N____ <---- Used to indicate a Yes/No question.

HOUSE BLUE, YOU HAVE?  - Do you have a blue house?

WH Questions 

 Questions considered WH questions are questions that begin with: WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHY, and HOW.

Examples:
                            __WH__ <----- Used to indicate WH-Question.
DOG, YOU BUY WHERE? - Where did you buy the dog?

 Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical questions are used instead of saying BECAUSE.  You ask your question with the same body language as a Y/N question, then you answer it yourself after.

Example:
                               __R__ <---------- Used to indicate Rhetorical Question.

TODAY, STORE I GO WHY? BREAD I HAVE NONE. - Why did I go to the store today? I didn't have any bread.  or I went to the store today because I didn't have any bread.