The American Sign Language Phrase Book (11 page)

The verbs LOVE, UNDERSTAND, and WANT in these sentences do obviously have movement in them, but that movement does not express either subject or direct object; that is, the movement has no directionality. Subject and direct object signs must be supplied.

One-directional verb signs express direct object but not subject, as in these sentences:

One-directional verbs move toward the direct object; thus, a noun or pronoun is not required. The exception to this rule occurs when the signer is the direct object. For example, "You see me" must be signed:

The direct object here is the signer ("me"), and since the movement of the SEE sign does not move toward the direct object, then the direct object must be signed. Notice also that the SEE sign does indeed move slightly to the right of the sight line, not directly toward the watcher.

The movement of multi-directional signs expresses both subject and direct object. The sign moves from the subject toward the direct object; thus, neither the subject nor direct object is signed.

In the following illustration, the body is faced to your left to give you a better view of how the sign is made, but the sign itself goes along the sight line from the signer to the watcher.

The movement from a space normally implies that whoever occupies that space is the subject. The movement toward a space normally implies that whoever occupies that space is the direct object.

Many sentences in English require some form of the "to be" verb. Examples of such sentences include "I am fine," "You are tired," "Where is Joe?" and "They were not here." There is no "to be" verb in ASL. The above examples are signed, "I FINE," "YOU TIRED," "WHERE JOE?" and "THEY NOT HERE." Statements such as "It is raining," "The flower is growing," and "The train is late" are signed:

When the signer wishes to stress or emphasize statements, then the TRUE sign is used. The following statement means simply that "I am sick":

The following statement means that "I am really sick," or "I am very sick":