Sign Language Sign Language Grammar and Syntax 2

Question 1

What does 'mouth morpheme' refer to in ASL?

Accepted Answer

Mouth movements that carry adverbial or adjectival meaning

Answer

Mouth morphemes are specific mouth movements (not mouthed English words) that convey meaning such as degree, manner, or intensity.

Question 2

In ASL, how is negation typically expressed?

Accepted Answer

By shaking the head 'no' while signing

Answer

Negation in ASL is most naturally expressed by shaking the head side-to-side simultaneously with the signed content being negated.

Question 3

What is 'role shift' in ASL storytelling?

Accepted Answer

Shifting body and gaze to take on the perspective of different characters

Answer

Role shift involves the signer shifting their body posture, gaze, and expression to inhabit a character's perspective during a narrative.

Question 4

How does ASL show that an action is ongoing or continuous?

Accepted Answer

By moving the sign in a circular motion

Answer

Many ASL verbs can be modified to show ongoing action by adding a continuous circular movement to the sign.

Question 5

What is the function of 'directionality' in ASL verbs?

Accepted Answer

It indicates the subject and object of a verb through movement direction

Answer

Directional verbs move from the location of the subject to the location of the object, encoding subject-object relationships in one movement.

Sign Language Practice Test