The Basics
Learn the foundational building blocks of American Sign Language.
This Week's Focus: ASL Syntax
How to build sentences like a native signer.
The most fundamental concept in ASL grammar is the Topic-Comment structure. You first establish what you're talking about (the topic), and then you make a comment about it. This is different from English's strict Subject-Verb-Object order.
English: The boy threw the ball.
ASL (SVO): BOY THROW BALL
- Topic: BOY
- Comment: THROW BALL
ASL (OSV - Topicalized): BALLt BOY THROW
- Topic: BALL (with raised eyebrows)
- Comment: BOY THROW
Topicalization is when you intentionally make the object the topic of the sentence. It's a powerful and common tool in ASL. To do it, you use a specific non-manual signal: raise your eyebrows and slightly tilt your head forward when you sign the topic.
A Classic Example: The Importance of Topic
In English, a comma can save a life. In ASL, topicalization does the same thing!
"Let's eat Grandma!" (Uh oh...)
WE EAT GRANDMA
Without topicalization, the structure is SVO. The subject is "WE" and the object is "GRANDMA". This means Grandma is on the menu!
"Let's eat, Grandma!" (Phew!)
GRANDMA🤨 t WE EAT
By topicalizing "GRANDMA" (with raised eyebrows), you establish her as the addressee, not the object. The meaning becomes an invitation for her to eat with you.
More Examples
Standard: HE WANT COFFEE
Topicalized: COFFEEt HE WANT
Standard: I FINISH HOMEWORK
Topicalized: HOMEWORKt I FINISH
Standard: SHE LIKE MOVIE
Topicalized: MOVIEt SHE LIKE
Standard: THEY BUY CAR NEW
Topicalized: CAR NEWt THEY BUY
Standard: I UNDERSTAND BOOK
Topicalized: BOOKt I UNDERSTAND
Let's Review!
Refreshing our memory on the fundamentals of American Sign Language.
Fingerspelling Flashcards
Test Your Knowledge
See what you've learned about ASL basics. Select the correct answer for each question.