Here's how questions are typically expressed in ASL:
* Raised eyebrows: This is the most common indicator of a question. The eyebrows are raised high, almost touching the forehead.
* Head tilt: Often, the head will tilt slightly forward or to the side when asking a question.
* Slight forward lean: The signer may lean slightly forward toward the listener.
* Use of "wh" signs: Signs for "who," "what," "when," "where," and "why" are used to form specific questions. These signs are often accompanied by raised eyebrows and a head tilt.
* Question mark sign: A sign resembling a question mark can be used to signify a question, but it's less common than the other methods.
Here's an example:
Let's say you want to ask "What is your name?" in ASL. You would sign:
* "What" (a "wh" sign) with raised eyebrows and a slight head tilt.
* "Your" (sign for "you" with a possessive sign)
* "Name"
The raised eyebrows and head tilt indicate that you're asking a question, even though there's no specific sign for "question" itself.
Learning to use facial expressions and body language effectively is essential to understand and use ASL properly.