Sign Language Facial Expressions and Non-Manual Markers

Question 1

In ASL, what do non-manual markers (NMMs) primarily refer to?

Accepted Answer

Facial expressions, mouth movements, and body posture

Answer

Non-manual markers include facial expressions, eye gaze, mouth movements, head tilts, and body posture that add grammatical and linguistic information to ASL.

Question 2

Which facial expression is used to mark a yes/no question in ASL?

Accepted Answer

Raised eyebrows and forward head tilt

Answer

Yes/no questions in ASL are marked by raised eyebrows and a slight forward head tilt held throughout the question.

Question 3

What facial expression marks a wh- question (who, what, where, when, why, how) in ASL?

Accepted Answer

Furrowed brows

Answer

Wh- questions in ASL are marked by furrowed (lowered) brows, which contrasts with the raised eyebrows used for yes/no questions.

Question 4

In ASL, what does a 'puffed cheeks' non-manual marker typically indicate?

Accepted Answer

That something is large, heavy, or took a long time

Answer

Puffed cheeks are a non-manual marker used to indicate something large, heavy, or that an action took a long time to complete.

Question 5

What grammatical role does eye gaze serve in ASL?

Accepted Answer

It can indicate reference, direct speech, and spatial agreement

Answer

Eye gaze in ASL serves grammatical functions including establishing reference points, indicating reported speech, and maintaining spatial agreement between signers.

Sign Language Practice Test

Sign Language Practice Test

Sign Language Facial Expressions and Non-Manual Markers