Non-Manual Markers in ASL

Why This Matters

Non-manual markers (NMMs) are the grammatical backbone of American Sign Language—they're not just decoration or emotional flair. You're being tested on understanding that ASL is a complete, rule-governed language with its own syntax, and NMMs carry grammatical information that would be conveyed through word order or tone of voice in spoken languages. Without proper non-manual markers, a sentence can become ungrammatical or completely change meaning, just like dropping a question mark changes a statement in English.

Think of NMMs as falling into two major categories: grammatical markers that change sentence structure and affective markers that convey emotion and intensity. The key insight is that some NMMs are required for grammatical accuracy (like raised eyebrows for yes/no questions), while others are optional but add nuance. Don't just memorize what each marker looks like—know whether it serves a grammatical function, an emotional function, or both.

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Grammatical Markers: Required for Sentence Structure

These non-manual markers aren't optional—they change the fundamental grammar of what you're signing. Without them, your sentence may be incomplete or mean something entirely different.

Eyebrow Movements (Raised or Furrowed)

• Raised eyebrows signal yes/no questions—this is grammatically required, not just expressive; without raised brows, your question becomes a statement
• Furrowed eyebrows mark WH-questions (who, what, where, when, why, how) and must be held throughout the question
• Brow position distinguishes sentence types—the same hand signs with different eyebrow positions create entirely different meanings

Head Tilts and Nods

• Head nods function as affirmation markers—repeated nodding during a statement adds emphasis or confirms truth value
• Head tilts accompany conditional clauses ("if/then" statements) and rhetorical questions, signaling the listener to expect more information
• Forward head thrust marks topics—tilting the head forward while raising eyebrows establishes the topic of a sentence

Eye Gaze

• Referent establishment requires consistent eye gaze—once you assign a person or object to a location in signing space, looking at that spot refers back to them
• Breaking eye contact signals role shift—looking away from your conversation partner indicates you're taking on another person's perspective
• Direct gaze to the listener marks commands and direct address—maintaining eye contact emphasizes urgency or importance

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Lexical Modifiers: Changing Sign Meaning

These markers attach to individual signs to modify their meaning, similar to how adverbs or adjectives work in English.

Mouth Movements and Shapes

• Mouth morphemes modify adjectives and verbs—"CHA" (with jaw dropped) means "very large," while "OO" (pursed lips) means "very small"
• Specific shapes are lexicalized—some mouth movements are required parts of certain signs and cannot be omitted
• Mouthing English words differs from ASL mouth morphemes—borrowed English mouthing is separate from grammatical ASL mouth shapes

Cheek Movements (Puffing or Sucking In)

• Puffed cheeks indicate large size or quantity—combined with signs for objects, this shows something is bigger than normal
• Sucked-in cheeks convey smallness, thinness, or intensity—this modifier works with many descriptive signs
• Cheek position affects meaning systematically—these aren't random expressions but predictable grammatical modifiers

Tongue Positioning

• "TH" tongue position means carelessly or poorly done—tongue protrudes slightly between teeth during the sign
• Tongue clicks and movements mark specific meanings—"not yet" in ASL requires a specific tongue movement
• Tongue visibility is grammatically meaningful—unlike spoken language, visible tongue position carries semantic content

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Affective Markers: Conveying Emotion and Attitude

These markers add emotional context and can be combined with grammatical markers. They're more flexible than grammatical NMMs but still follow predictable patterns.

Facial Expressions

• Expressions must match message content—signing "happy" with a sad face creates confusion or sarcasm
• Intensity of expression modifies intensity of meaning—a slight smile versus a broad grin changes how "happy" is interpreted
• Neutral face is also meaningful—lack of expression can indicate factual reporting or emotional detachment from content

Nose Wrinkling

• Wrinkled nose signals negation or disgust—this can reinforce negative signs or add negative connotation to neutral ones
• Functions as an adverbial marker—adds "with distaste" or "reluctantly" to actions being described
• Combines with other markers—often appears alongside furrowed brows for intensified negative meaning

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Body-Level Markers: Space and Perspective

These markers use larger body movements to organize information in signing space and signal narrative shifts.

Body Positioning

• Role shift requires body movement—shifting your shoulders and torso indicates you're now signing as a different person in a narrative
• Body orientation establishes spatial relationships—turning toward different areas of signing space references different people or things
• Consistent positioning maintains clarity—once you establish where characters "are" in space, your body orientation keeps track of who's who

Shoulder Movements

• Shoulder shrugs mark uncertainty or rhetorical questions—often combined with raised eyebrows and head tilt
• Alternating shoulders indicates contrast—shifting between left and right shoulder can show "on one hand... on the other hand"
• Shoulder height affects sign meaning—raised shoulders can indicate tension, fear, or cold; dropped shoulders suggest relaxation or defeat

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Quick Reference Table

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Self-Check Questions

1. Which two non-manual markers distinguish yes/no questions from WH-questions, and what does each look like?

2. A signer produces the sign DRIVE with their tongue slightly protruding between their teeth. How does this tongue position change the meaning of the sign?

3. Compare and contrast the grammatical function of body positioning versus eye gaze—when would you use each to refer back to a person you've already mentioned?

4. If you saw a signer use the same hand movements but once with puffed cheeks and once with sucked-in cheeks, what would be different about the meaning? Give an example.

5. FRQ-style: Explain why non-manual markers are considered grammatical features of ASL rather than just emotional expressions. Provide two specific examples where removing the non-manual marker would change the sentence's grammatical structure or meaning.