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ASL: "WHY-[rhetorical]"


Discussion: 
Normal "Wh-questions" use "furrowed eyebrows."
Rhetorical "Wh-questions" use "raised eyebrows."

A "rhetorical question" in ASL uses the raised eyebrows (non-manual features / facial expressions) typically used for a "yes/no question."  Rhetorical "WH" type questions raise the eyebrows because you are not actually asking "how to do something," but rather you are asking your conversation partner if he or she wants to know how to do something. It is a way of getting him or her to pay attention.

When using rhetorical questions in ASL we generally answer our own question:

M-A-R-Y don't-LIKE HER JOB. WHY-[rhetorical]? LOW PAY.

Source: https://youtu.be/qBgBbkKdO7E

 



TEACHER FRUSTRATED. WHY-[rhetorical] STUDENT THEY CHAT TOO-MUCH.

https://youtu.be/l58fHAKgvg0
 




E-R-I-C FRUSTRATED WHY? HIS GIRLFRIEND ALWAYS JEALOUS.

Source: https://youtu.be/WYFIrQ7BlI4
 



MY SISTER GIVE-UP OLD FURNITURE. WHY-[rhetorical]? SHE MOVE NEW HOUSE.

https://youtu.be/GAgD6nFJC54

 



MY WORST CLASS GOVERNMENT. WHY-[rhetorical]? TEACHER BORING.

https://youtu.be/DE_SpYFeSWU
 



MY UNCLE STRONG WHY? EVERYDAY HE WORK FARM.

https://youtu.be/l_nr60-ZGhk



I don't-LIKE winter-[COLD]. WHY-[rhetorical]? DARK EARLY!


https://youtu.be/fuNjcrDBhik

 


S-A-R-A-H PROUD WHY? SHE RECENTLY LEARN HOW RIDE MOTORCYCLE.

https://youtu.be/L8WZJ9f29WQ



G-A-R-Y FRUSTRATED LATE WORK. WHY? HE CAR ACCIDENT.

https://youtu.be/D6AuqgDmdYY

 



E-L-A-I-N-E DON'T WANT GO BOATING. WHY? SHE AFRAID WATER.

https://youtu.be/cfFDrKWLyKw

 



THIS MORNING T-E-D ANGRY WHY? HIS SISTER LOST CAR KEYS.

https://youtu.be/q95DX0mm3Qc


 



 



 

Notes:
 

 




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