Facial Expressions and Body Language

Page 9

In spoken language, the speaker gives tone, inflection, and detail in the way their voice varies for differing reasons. In ASL, the way to do this is through facial expressions. Many signs can actually change their meaning depending upon the facial expressions associated with the desired meaning. 

Certainly, the point of the information can be altered when facial expressions are altered, or lacking entirely. We see this most notably in emotions and questions. If you were to say “my birthday is tomorrow, I’m very excited!” chances are that you would smile, your voice would change, and your audience would understand the emotion that you were talking about. Your facial expressions and body language would match with the excitement you were speaking of. Sign language relies on the portrayal of these emotions. Signing the same sentence would include excitement and dramatic facial expressions to convey excitement. If this were lacking, the audience would believe that you were not excited at all, and this would completely change the meaning of your sentence. View the video below for some great examples.

Video: Facial Expressions Vocabulary
​Source: ASL That
Length: 1:49

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Why is this Important?

Facial expressions are vital to getting your point across in sign language. They can literally change the conversation. This is important to note for children learning sign language for several reasons. It can prove to serve as an exercise in identifying emotions, it is the proper way to teach the language, and gives children the opportunity to express themselves in a new way. 

Some children struggle with expressing emotions or controlling their impulses. Sign language can help those children to express themselves in a different way. Often, a child who struggles with verbalizing their feelings will take to sign language as a means of expression. Teachers and caregivers should support this and give their students the tools to do this successfully.

Facial expressions are such a vital component to ASL that neglecting to teach them would be irresponsible. It would be similar to teaching new vocabulary words without teaching the meaning of the words. Children should be taught the facial expressions that correspond with feeling and emotion signs as they acquire the signs themselves. 

Navigation Menu

1. Course Agenda
​2. Sign Language Introduction Video
3. ASL Video Discussion
4. Deaf Culture and Community
5. Cultural Influences on Language
6. Video Protecting Deaf Culture
7. Discussion Deaf Culture
8. Hand Shapes
9. Facial Expressions and Body Language
10. Signed Alphabet 
11. Discussion: Facial Expressions

12. Occupations with and without the Agent Marker
13. Basic Signs
14. Color Signs
15. Days of the Week
16. People Signs
17. Place Signs
18. Animal Signs
19. Food Signs
20. Feeling Signs
21. School Signs
22. Basic Signs
​23. Discussion: Signs in the Classroom

24. Check for Understanding
25. Where to Begin when Teaching Signs
26. Signs by Age
27. Older Children Signs
28. Classroom Management
29. Make it Fun!
30. Discussion: Make it Fun!
31. Sign Language Quiz #1
32. Sign Language Quiz #2
33. Sign Language Quiz #3
34. Sign Language Quiz #4
35. Sign Language Quiz #5
36. Evaluation Form​
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