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American Sign Language: "Do you mind if I marry your daughter?"


In a message dated 12/23/2010 11:48:56 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, a young man writes:

"There is a phrase i am interested in learning, one which if you knew more of the "back story" would probably bring a smile. I have been visiting your site in an effort to educate myself and i hope i am learning. I have met an incredible woman who's Father is deaf, her mother was also deaf. She hears fine but growing up with deaf parents is fluent in sign. So yes i could learn this phrase from her but i would like to be able to surprise her.

If you could or would .... will you help me to understand how to ask her Father the following..... Would you mind if i marry your daughter?

Thank you for your time, best wishes to you and your family for a very merry Christmas.

Sincerly
J Landis
 


Dear "J,"
While some ASL teachers may feel that you should sign: "YOUR DAUGHTER, I MARRY SHE, don't-MIND YOU?" -- My advice to you as a currently non-signing "Hearing" person, is to sign: "DON'T-MIND I MARRY YOUR DAUGHTER?"  (That will be relatively easy for you to keep straight.) Just remember to raise your eyebrows on the do you mind" part.
Or you could sign "I want marry your daughter. You mind?"
 


 "Do you mind if I marry your daughter?"
 = "DON'T-MIND I MARRY YOUR DAUGHTER?"


 


 


A little better version is:
"I WANT MARRY YOUR DAUGHTER. YOU MIND?"
This is somewhat better because it puts the "question expression" at the end of the sentence along with the specific question phrase "Do you mind?" That helps it to be very clear that you are asking a question.




 



Okay, here is a bit more "formal" version:
YOUR DAUGHTER I WANT MARRY. I REQUEST/ASK YOUR PERMISSION.


 


PERMISSION:

 


Also see:  MARRIAGE





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