In ASL, facial expressions indicate grammatical information and unit boundaries.

In ASL, facial expressions indicate grammatical information and unit boundaries.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not related

Answer: (A)

Facial expressions in ASL act as nonmanual markers that carry grammatical information and help mark unit boundaries within discourse. They signal aspects like sentence type (yes-no vs. wh- questions), negation, and other grammatical nuances, and they also cue where one unit ends and the next begins. For example, raised eyebrows held throughout a yes-no question indicate the entire clause, while different brow positions reflect wh- questions. A negation is often shown through a specific facial expression combined with mouth movements, signaling the negative meaning. These cues are standard and essential, guiding both interpretation and production rather than being optional. Because of that, the statement is true. Options that suggest these cues aren’t part of ASL or are only sometimes present don’t fit, since facial expressions regularly convey grammar and unit boundaries.

Facial expressions in ASL act as nonmanual markers that carry grammatical information and help mark unit boundaries within discourse. They signal aspects like sentence type (yes-no vs. wh- questions), negation, and other grammatical nuances, and they also cue where one unit ends and the next begins. For example, raised eyebrows held throughout a yes-no question indicate the entire clause, while different brow positions reflect wh- questions. A negation is often shown through a specific facial expression combined with mouth movements, signaling the negative meaning. These cues are standard and essential, guiding both interpretation and production rather than being optional. Because of that, the statement is true. Options that suggest these cues aren’t part of ASL or are only sometimes present don’t fit, since facial expressions regularly convey grammar and unit boundaries.