Linguistics: American Sign Language: adverbs
ASL grammar and linguistics discussions.
ASL Adverbs:
Adverbs are signs that modify or describe a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or even an entire sentence. They often provide information about manner, place, time, frequency, degree, and certainty, among other things.
In addition to using various signs as adverbs, ASL often conveys adverbial meaning through non-manual markers (like facial expressions) and the modulation of signs (like signing more intensely or slowly). Thus facial expressions and changes to the movements of signs in ASL can often function similarly to adverbs in English.
Facial expressions play a crucial role in ASL adverbial nuances. For instance, raising one's eyebrows while signing a question can denote that it's a rhetorical or yes-no question. Similarly, shaking one's head while signing can indicate a negative form of the verb. These non-manual features function much like adverbs in spoken languages, providing additional information about the verb's action.
Manner: The sign for "FAST" or "SLOW" can adjust the meaning of a verb, similar to how we might use "quickly" or "slowly" in English.
Frequency: Signs for "ALWAYS" or "NEVER" can indicate how often something occurs.
Degree: Intensifying the movement of a sign, like signing "LIKE" with more force, can indicate a strong preference, similar to "really like" in English.
Certainty: Non-manual markers, such as nodding while signing, can indicate affirmation or certainty. We can also add a sign like WILL, PERIOD, DECIDE FINISH, or phrases such as "FOR SURE."
Also see: temporal adverbs in ASL
Notes:
It may help you to understand ASL adverbs better if you review what English adverbs are and see some examples:
English Adverbs:
Definition: Adverbs are words that modify or describe a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or even an entire sentence. They often provide information about manner, place, time, frequency, degree, and certainty, among other things.
Examples:
Manner: She sang beautifully. ("Beautifully" describes how she sang.)
Place: The children are playing outside. ("Outside" describes where the children are playing.)
Time: We will meet tomorrow. ("Tomorrow" indicates when the meeting will occur.)
Frequency: He often reads books. ("Often" indicates how regularly he reads books.)
Degree: The soup is too hot. ("Too" indicates the extent to which the soup is hot.)
Certainty: They will definitely come to the party. ("Definitely" indicates the surety of their coming to the party.)Sequence: He woke up, then brushed his teeth. ("Then" indicates the order in which the actions occurred.)
Condition: "She would join, provided it’s on a weekend." ("Provided" introduces a condition.)
Sequence: "He woke up, then brushed his teeth."
Comment: "He is, frankly, the best for the job." (Where "frankly" is giving a comment about the main statement.)
Negation: "She never smokes."Affirmation: "He will surely come to the event." vs. "She never smokes."
Contrast and concession: "He is often loud, however, today he was quiet."
Purpose: "He drove quickly because he was late."
Manner: "He replied rudely."
Attitude: "She kindly offered her seat."Quantity: "She is much happier now."
Extent: "He almost finished his meal."
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