ASL grammar

ASL (American Sign Language) grammar differs from English in structure and flow. It primarily uses a topic-comment or subject-predicate order, meaning the topic is often established first, followed by a comment about it. Time, location, and who is involved are typically signed at the beginning of a sentence. Non-manual signals (like facial expressions and head movements) play a crucial role in conveying tone, questions, and emotional context. Unlike word order in English, ASL relies on spatial and visual cues, body language, and specific facial expressions to communicate grammatical relationships and meaning effectively.