Introduction to ASL Grammar
Many people in the United States believe that English and American Sign Language (ASL) are similar languages. They believe that ASL is just English on the hands. Some understand there is a difference but think ASL is English-like. Some people even think ASL is just English without some words or is a language of concepts. In the end, there is a common belief that ASL is an extension of English and not its own language.
At their cores, spoken languages and sign languages are different. Unlike spoken languages, signed languages are spatial, meaning they are not limited to the constraints of spoken languages. For example, in spoken languages, if I want to tell you about the actions of two people simultaneously, I would have to sign about one before the other. However, in a sign language, using semantic classifiers, I can show two independent actions without a break in the story.
Another difference between English and ASL is verb conjugations and tenses. In English, the verb changes based on a sentence's tense, person, number, or mood. However, in ASL, intonation and slight movement changes will influence the meaning of the verb, in addition to the other parts of the sentence. Therefore, in English, one must learn several rules for spelling and pronunciation, but in ASL, you do not. Tense, does exist in ASL, however, just like verb conjugations the sign itself does not change. Whereas, in English, the entire word may change or endings may be added.
It is important for ASL learners to notice, understand, and practice the differences between ASL and English. Although, at the end of the day, signing can follow the rules of English and be understandable, it is important to practice different structures. Some sentences become more challenging to understand when ASL grammar is not followed. Therefore, as you grow as a student, sometimes your signing becomes harder to comprehend because there is another way it could be signed. Thus, practicing the differences early and with simple sentences is essential so your signing stays comprehensible as you grow as a student.