A student asks:
Dr. Bill I was wondering if you could explain the use of pronouns twice. I have
yet to run into this at my college level classes. (I'm currently in ASL 4.) It has
never been mentioned before.
I am curious as to the reason the pronoun gets mentioned twice if the subject
has be established at the beginning of the sentence. Is it used only to add
emphasis or is it important for some other reason?
Dr. Bill Replies:
It may help to think of some "end of sentence" pronoun usage as being a combination of a facial
expression and the pointing index finger. The facial expression is
actually functioning as a verb in certain situations. For example:
"are-YOU?"
"do-YOU?"
"did-YOU?"
The "are", "do", and "did" concepts above are expressed not as separate signs
but rather are expressed via your face (with raised eyebrows and sometimes an
accompanying slight forward tilt of head) while pointing at the person.
Thus a sentence such as, "Do you like ice-cream?" -- (sometimes) ends up being
signed as, "YOU LIKE ICE-CREAM do-YOU?"
The first "YOU" functions as a simple pronoun, the second YOU however is done
with raised eyebrows, held a little longer, and functions not as a pronoun but
instead it functions as an auxiliary verb.
Another thing to consider is that English speakers often seem to drop certain
verbs in high-context situations.
Imagine two people who have met at a dance (or wherever) and decide they like
each other. One of them might say to the other:
"You married?"
Really though what is happening here is the speaker is combining the tone of
his/her voice with the word YOU to create the auxiliary verb "are."
So, to review:
1. We tend to use "pronoun copy" not for emphasis but rather to function as an
auxiliary verb (such as "do" or "are").
2. The inconsistency in the use (or lack of use) of the second pronoun in real
life (or in various curricula) may seem inconsistent and confusing to second
language learners but it will help to remember that your own native language
tends to "use certain words sometimes" and "drop those same words" other times
-- depending on how much context there is in the situation and how you are
modulating your voice.
A student asks:
Oh OK! So in the example sentence is the second YOU used in addition with the
facial expressions like the word used for the yes/no question. Similar to how "WH-questions"
place the "WH" word at the end? Also is the second YOU necessary or would raised
eyebrows suffice? And last question...is the use of a second YOU only for
questions or is it ever used in a statement?
Dr. Bill replies:
1.
The second "YOU is sometimes dropped and replaced by "context" +
"facial-expression." The higher the context, the less need for words or signs.
2. The rightward movement of the auxiliary "do-YOU" is indeed similar in nature
to the rightward movement of "WH-questions." This is likely due in both cases to
the awkwardness of trying to hold your eyebrows up or down throughout the
duration of long sentences. It is easier to just raise or lower the eyebrows for
a bit at the end of a sentence.
3. The "second you" shows up in statements as well.
For example, "You are going!" - can be expressed as YOU GO (nod)-YOU! Again, we
see that the second YOU is not actually functioning as a pronoun but instead as
the auxiliary verb "are" For example, the "nod" ends up meaning "are" as in:
"YOU GO YOU-(are)!"
In regard to adding "YOU" at the end of yes/no type questions:
I would encourage you to keep in mind that even though you may have seen someone
teach the use of pronoun copy (the repeating of the pronoun at the end of
sentences) -- there are a number of other right ways to sign yes or no
questions:
1. "YOU HUNGRY YOU?"
2. "YOU HUNGRY?
3. "HUNGRY YOU?"
4. (look at the person and just sign) HUNGRY? (with your eyebrows up)
Languages have layers and levels based on context and familiarity. For example,
in English you may use:
Hungry?
You hungry?
Are you hungry?
Hey, you hungry?
Hey, are you hungry?
Are you feeling hungry?
Are you in the mood for some breakfast?
To pick just one of those sentence constructions and claim it is "the" right way
to speak (or write) English -- would be doing a disservice to your students or
audience by creating artificial rigidity and limiting their understanding of
their options.
So, sure, adding a "YOU" at the end of yes/no-type question sentences is "a" way
to ask a yes/no question -- but it is not the only way and sometimes not even
the best way because depending on context and familiarity you can often use
fewer signs, save time, and get your message across more efficiently.
Again, pronoun copy is "a" way to construct sentences but you and others
(reading this reply) can perhaps relax a bit though in knowing that it is not
the only way.
Notes:
Also see: Pronoun Placement
Also see:
Pronoun copy and Yes/No sentences in ASL
Also see: Why the double YOU in ASL?
Also see: WH-rightward movement unnecessary in very short questions