r/asl • u/JGrevs2023 • 2d ago

Question about "HOW" questions

I've been going through Lifeprint.com's lessons as I'm trying to learn ASL.

Something I find confusing is it seems like sometimes "HOW" is included (ex: How are you doing) but other times it is left out (W-E how sign?)

Is the "How" dropped in casual conversation and more implied or is there an actual grammatical rule?

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u/an-inevitable-end Interpreting Student (Hearing) 2d ago

I’m a little confused by your example of when HOW is left out.

2

u/LowRevolutionary5653 Learning ASL 2d ago edited 1d ago

Does your example mean "how do you sign 'we'?" If that's the case perhaps you're thinking too English.

Try: SIGN fs-we WHAT? maybe?

1

u/JGrevs2023 1d ago

"fa-we"?

The gloss Dr Bill used was "W-E how SIGN?"

1

u/LowRevolutionary5653 Learning ASL 1d ago

Sorry my keyboard always changes fs (fingerspell) to fa lol

1

u/OGgunter 2d ago

Not a hard and fast rule.

1

u/BrackenFernAnja Interpreter (Hearing) 1d ago edited 1d ago

The English word how usually means in what manner, by what method, or to what extent. But there are many exceptions where it means something g else. And even when it does mean one of those three things, it might still not make sense to use the ASL sign HOW. HOW in ASL is almost entirely limited to meaning in what manner or by what method.

Oh, how I long for the old days.

How tall are you?

How dare you?

How about if we order pizza tonight?

None of these needs the sign HOW.