Learn Auslan - Answering questions
In English, it’s common to answer questions with ‘yes’ or ‘no’. In Auslan, answering questions with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ often earmarks you as a beginner.
It’s not wrong, exactly, but the custom is to answer with an appropriate verb if possible.
For example, if someone asks me, do I have my toothbrush with me, I would answer ‘HAVE’.
If someone asks, do I have a warm jumper they can borrow, I would sign, ‘DON’T-HAVE, SORRY’.
If someone asks whether I can play the piano, my answer would be ‘CAN’.
If someone asks whether I’m planning to clean the house before my guests arrive, I would answer ‘WILL’.
If they ask if I’d like a cup of tea, I would sign ‘WANT’ or 'DON’T-WANT’, and add the sign for THANK-YOU.
Watch the video for common answers to questions:
have
don’t have
can
can’t
will
want
don’t want
You can also answer with other words, such as ‘NOT-YET’ or ‘LATER’ or anything that suits the context of the question.
This video is part of my free online Auslan course. To access the entire course, and additional lessons that are not taught via video, please visit my website, https://helloasphyxia.wordpress.com/
To learn more about what it is really like to be Deaf, details about the Deaf community and how Auslan is used by Deaf people, read my book, Future Girl, https://tinyurl.com/yd27a39k