ASL: "because"
Tip: Make sure you can recognize the various versions of the older sign for
BECAUSE. See below.
The concept of "because"
has several versions currently in use in the Deaf Community.
Over time it is becoming increasingly common to see the concept of "because"
expressed by signing either:
1. WHY-[rhetorical] done by raising the eyebrows while signing WHY. Then answer your own
question.
2. WHY-[statement-form] done by signing WHY without raising or lowering the eyebrows and
without significant downward movement. Then continue your statement as if you
had used the "BECAUSE" sign. (This approach basically uses the sign WHY to
replace the sign BECAUSE.
There are those who will tell you that the versions of the sign BECAUSE listed
below are not "ASL" signs and that you should instead use a "rhetorical-WHY," a
"rhetorical-REASON," or rearrange your sentence.
Such a narrow view of the sign BECAUSE ignores the fact that many Deaf ASL
signers "do" use one or more versions of the sign glossed (labeled) as
"BECAUSE."
In typical everyday interactions it is not uncommon to see the sign BECAUSE used
by skilled Deaf signers. If an ASL curriculum in an Interpreter
Preparation Program were to "not" teach the sign "BECAUSE" -- that
curriculum would be doing a disservice to aspiring interpreters and students who
wish to someday become fluent and able to have conversations with native Deaf in
"real life" community-based (as opposed to classroom-based) situations.
For example, see the 13 minutes and 54 seconds mark of the Daily Moth newscast
for 5/1/19*. That is just one example. I could, (if I didn't have many, many
better things to do) find and provide hundreds (or thousands) of similar
examples of the sign BECAUSE appearing in everyday real life Deaf ASL signing.
If nothing else it would be good to at least be able to recognize the versions
of BECAUSE,
even if you personally choose not sign BECAUSE.
Some individuals may claim that the reason why you see native Deaf skilled ASL
signers using the sign BECAUSE is due to such individuals having somehow been
"influenced" (tainted or infected) by "Signed English."
That is a false narrative (as in revisionist history). It seems plausible
except for the fact that for many years
the sign BECAUSE wasn't considered "Signed English" any more than any other ASL
sign. Just because ASL can and does make excellent use of rhetorical questions doesn't
mean that any non-rhetorical question structures are somehow less ASL.
Even if BECAUSE "was" Signed English (and I'm not saying it is or was) -- the fact is
that if many members of a
community start regularly using a word or a sign borrowed from a different
language, that word or sign becomes part of the language that
borrowed it. For example, American speakers of English don't run around telling other
English speakers to stop using the word "spaghetti" because it is "Italian" and
not "true English!"
If you are a student and are taking an ASL class from a teacher who believes
"BECAUSE is not ASL" -- the prudent (safe) thing to do is to sign
however your
instructor wants for the rest of the semester -- until you get the grade you want
-- and then go out into the Deaf World and sign BECAUSE using whichever version
or approach that
the adult, native Deaf signers in your local area do it.
Historically, the sign BECAUSE does not appear to be some English intrusion on
American Sign Language. For many years it was simply "the" ASL sign for
because." However, language changes--perceptions change. What was once
regarded as a typical ASL sign can become less and less popular until it drops
out of common usage and may even be considered wrong.
Time will tell.
Reference:
Daily Moth (5/1/19) 13 minute and 54 second mark (13:54) of: https://youtu.be/HZ8H8pfNwLA?t=834
Version 1:
WHY-[rhetorical]
Version 2:
WHY-[uninflected] (non-rhetorical)
Note: Do the sign WHY but do it near the head and with a neutral facial
expression.
Version 3:
BECAUSE-[index > X-version]
Version 4:
BECAUSE-[index > A-version]
Version 5:
BECAUSE-[slightly-bent-hand > A-Version]
Notes:
Sometimes people ask me, "How do you sign BECAUSE?"
Response: I use a variety of approaches depending on the context and what
I'm attempting to say or ask. Sometimes I use a rhetorical-WHY. Sometimes
I use the version of BECAUSE that changes from an index to an X hand.
Sometimes I use the sign FOR. Sometimes I use the sign
REASON-[rhetorical].
Question:
When you ask a rhetorical "why" or answer someone else's question -- should
you use the sign "BECAUSE" or do you just skip signing it and let the
concept be implied?
Answer:
In general you should just skip signing "because" as part of rhetorical
questions (since the concept of "because" is implied).
Over-use of "because" is typically perceived by viewers as indicating a
signer is not familiar with the type of signing done by skilled signers.
This isn't to say that we never sign "BECAUSE." We do. We just do it
sparingly and only when it significantly contributes to creating the
specific message we wish to convey.
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