Linguistics: American Sign Language: Question Mark Wiggle (QMW)
ASL grammar and linguistics discussions.
Question Mark Wiggle (QMW)
QMW is a discourse marker in ASL that often functions as an interrogative tag or is used for pragmatic purposes.
Discourse markers:
Discourse markers are words, signs, or phrases that don't add to the semantic meaning of a sentence but help organize discourse, manage conversation, or express the speaker's attitude.
Pragmatic markers:
Pragmatic markers, a subset of discourse markers, don't contribute to the propositional content of an utterance but guide its interpretation in context. They signal the speaker's attitude, relationships between parts of discourse, or how the utterance should be understood in the conversation.
Interrogative tags:
An interrogative tag is a brief addition at the end of a sentence that reinforces a question, turns a statement into a question, or invites a response. In spoken English, these tags often use rising intonation to signal their questioning nature. In ASL, interrogative tags typically use raised eyebrows for yes/no or rhetorical questions and lowered eyebrows for open-ended questions.
Pragmatic use:
QMW frequently functions as a pragmatic marker, inviting engagement or expressing uncertainty.
Interrogative use:
QMW can also serve as an interrogative tag, clarifying that a question has been asked, turning a statement into a question, or inviting a response from the conversation partner or audience.Functions of Question Mark Wiggle:
- Clarifying that a question has been asked:
A question might end with a sign that uses a conflicting facial expression. For example, the sign MAD in "Are you mad?" uses scrunched eyebrows, which contrasts with the raised eyebrows typically used for yes/no questions. This conflict can be resolved by adding a pronoun copy (e.g., YOU MAD YOU?) or a QMW (e.g., YOU MAD QMW?).
- Softening the question:
QMW can make a question feel less direct or demanding, adding politeness or casualness.
- Inviting engagement:
QMW, along with a corresponding facial expression, signals that the signer is open to discussion and invites the viewer's input.
- Expressing uncertainty:
QMW can indicate that the signer is unsure about the question or the potential answer.
- Encouraging reflection:
QMW prompts the conversation partner or audience to reflect more deeply on the question.
- Maintaining conversation flow:
QMW can hold the question open for longer, giving potential responders time to gather their thoughts and respond. This keeps the conversation flowing smoothly, preventing it from ending abruptly.
Notes:
A teacher writes:
I'm teaching sign language at [a school] in ██████, ██ this year. I previously purchased your super USB to use in class (High School). I'm teaching level one. One of my students asked a good question that even after 25 years I wasn't able to give a straight answer, and it wasn't covered (I don't think) in my version of the goals and explanation paper.
Question: "Why do the Deaf sign the question (wiggle) at the end of the statement when their furrowed brow or raised eyebrows already give the statement punctuation?"
I wasn't sure if it was for emphasis or for some other reason. I use it too and don't really know why.
------------Response: [see main article]
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