ASL 102 
SCCC

RHETORICAL QUESTIONS  - Excerpts from ASL by Baker & Cokely

Rhetorical questions in ASL are not true questions since the Addressee is not expected to respond, but rather provide a way for the Signer to introduce and draw attention to the information he/she will supply.  Rh-questions are accompanied by a brow raise and, frequently, a tilting of the head.  A wh-word sign usually occurs with this type of question.   In other words, rhetorical questions differ from WH-questions in that the eyebrows are raised for the WH sign and squeezed together (lowered) for a WH-question.  

English:        The boy is crying because his mother is sick.

ASL :              BOY  CRY               WHY                          HIS  MOTHER   INDEX-rt   SICK

NMGS:             topic- eyebrow raise       eyebrows up    (pause)    eyebrows neutral  head nod

Once more, when signing an RH-Question, the WH-sign i.e. WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW is signed using different facial grammar.  Instead, eyebrows are raised.

Change the following English sentences into Rh-Questions.  Practice signing, taking care to use correct non-manual behaviors (NMGS). Keep in mind that a number of RH questions can be created depending on which topic you want to focus upon.

1.                  I can’t buy a T.V. because I don’t have any money.

2.                  My sister is going to Gallaudet University .

3.                  Next year I’m going to Washington D.C. by train.

4.                  I didn’t go because it rained.

5.                  They voted my brother as the president of the club.

6.                  The lunch has been postponed to next Thursday.

7.                  Tomorrow I’ll tell you about the meeting.

8.                  I have finally decided to buy a Toyota car.

9.        She is mad because the movie was not fun.

10.      Close the door or the bugs will fly in.  

11.      When a thief stole his dog he called the police.