Glossing is a method of using English to explain concepts in American Sign Language (ASL) and is not a direct translation, but rather a tool for ASL students to recall signs. It employs specific conventions and symbols to represent ASL structure, emphasizing elements like topics, negative markers, and classifiers in a written format that aids in learning. The document provides numerous examples illustrating how glossing works with typical ASL phrases.

1. What is glossing?

2. What is glossing?
• Glossing: using English to explain how to say ideas in ASL.
• Glossing is not a translation.
• Glossing is writing tool for ASL students to remember signs
• Textbooks and other resources use glossing conventions to
explain vocabulary.
• Glossing is not written ASL. ASL is not a written language.

3. What is glossing?
• Glossing: using English to explain how to say ideas in ASL.
• Glossing is not a translation.
• Glossing is writing tool for ASL students to remember signs
• Textbooks and other resources use glossing conventions to
explain vocabulary.
• Glossing is not written ASL. ASL is not a written language.

4. What is glossing?
• Glossing: using English to explain how to say ideas in ASL.
• Glossing is not a translation.
• Glossing is a writing tool for ASL students to remember signs.
• Textbooks and other resources use glossing conventions to
explain vocabulary.
• Glossing is not written ASL. ASL is not a written language.

5. What is glossing?
• Glossing: using English to explain how to say ideas in ASL.
• Glossing is not a translation.
• Glossing is a writing tool for ASL students to remember signs.
• Textbooks and other resources use glossing conventions to
explain vocabulary.
• Glossing is not written ASL. ASL is not a written language.

6. What is glossing?
• Glossing: using English to explain how to say ideas in ASL.
• Glossing is not a translation.
• Glossing is a writing tool for ASL students to remember signs.
• Textbooks and other resources use glossing conventions to
explain vocabulary.
• Glossing is not written ASL. ASL is not a written language.
symbols

7. What is glossing?
• Glossing: using English to explain how to say ideas in ASL.
• Glossing is not a translation.
• Glossing is a writing tool for ASL students to remember signs.
• Textbooks and other resources use glossing conventions to
explain vocabulary.
• Glossing is not written ASL. ASL is not a written language.

8. What does ASL glossing look like?

9. What does ASL glossing look like?
Here are 8 examples.

10. What does ASL glossing look like?
Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Example 1

11. What does ASL glossing look like?
My name is Barbara.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Example 1

12. What does ASL glossing look like?
poss –eyebrows up
My name is Barbara.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: ME NAME fs-B-A-R-B-A-R-A
Example 1

13. Gloss ASL in all caps.
What does ASL glossing look like?
poss –eyebrows up
ME NAME fs-B-A-R-B-A-R-A
Example 1

14. Gloss ASL in all caps.
There's no 'is' in ASL, so don't put that in.
What does ASL glossing look like?
poss –eyebrows up
ME NAME fs-B-A-R-B-A-R-A
Example 1

15. Gloss ASL in all caps.
Line above words is a marker for facial expression.
There's no 'is' in ASL, so don't put that in.
What does ASL glossing look like?
poss –eyebrows up
ME NAME fs-B-A-R-B-A-R-A
Example 1

16. Gloss ASL in all caps.
Line above words is a marker for facial expression.
Here, you indicate raising your eyebrows.
There's no 'is' in ASL, so don't put that in.
What does ASL glossing look like?
poss –eyebrows up
ME NAME fs-B-A-R-B-A-R-A
Example 1

17. Gloss ASL in all caps.
Line above words is a marker for facial expression.
Here, you indicate raising your eyebrows.
There's no 'is' in ASL, so don't put that in.
fs = fingerspelling
What does ASL glossing look like?
poss –eyebrows up
ME NAME fs-B-A-R-B-A-R-A
Example 1

18. Gloss ASL in all caps.
Line above words is a marker for facial expression.
Here, you indicate raising your eyebrows.
There's no 'is' in ASL, so don't put that in.
fs = fingerspelling
Dashes in between letters show a word is
fingerspelled.
What does ASL glossing look like?
poss –eyebrows up
ME NAME fs-B-A-R-B-A-R-A
Example 1

19. Glossing in ASL
Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Example 2

20. Glossing in ASL
Is he a teacher?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Example 2

21. Is he a teacher?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: HE TEACHER HE
q
Glossing in ASL
Example 2

22. Is he a teacher?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: HE TEACHER HE
q eyebrows up
Glossing in ASL
Example 2

23. Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 3

24. Amir is tall.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 3

25. Amir is tall.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: fs-A-M-I-R, HE TALL HE
T
Glossing in ASL
Example 3

26. Amir is tall.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: fs-A-M-I-R, HE TALL HE
T
Glossing in ASL
Amir is the topic. Eyebrows up.
Example 3

27. Amir is tall.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: fs-A-M-I-R, HE TALL HE
T
Glossing in ASL
Amir is the topic. Eyebrows up.
Fingerspell Amir.
Example 3

28. Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 4

29. I'm not sad.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 4

30. I'm not sad.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: ME SAD ME
N
Glossing in ASL
Example 4

31. I'm not sad.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: ME SAD ME
N
Glossing in ASL
Negative marker. Shake your head 'No.'
Example 4

32. Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 5

33. Ms. Cohen loves black coffee.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 5

34. Ms. Cohen loves black coffee.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: BLACK COFFEE, fs-C-O-H-E-N LOVE
Glossing in ASL
Example 5
T

35. Ms. Cohen loves black coffee.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: BLACK COFFEE, fs-C-O-H-E-N LOVE
Glossing in ASL
Example 5
T
Coffee is the topic. Raise eyebrows. Also,
put topics at the beginning of sentences.

36. Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 6

37. This morning was a normal day.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 6

38. This morning was a normal day.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: TODAY MORNING SAME + +
Glossing in ASL
Example 6
T

39. This morning was a normal day.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: TODAY MORNING SAME + +
Glossing in ASL
Example 6
T
Raise eyebrows for this morning, the topic.

40. This morning was a normal day.Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: TODAY MORNING SAME + +
Glossing in ASL
Example 6
T
Raise eyebrows for this morning, the topic.
+ + means repeat the sign 'same'.

41. Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 7

42. Is your ASL book really thick?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 7

43. Is your ASL book really thick?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: YOUR ASL BOOK CL:C
Glossing in ASL
Example 7
q

44. Is your ASL book really thick?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: YOUR ASL BOOK CL:C
Glossing in ASL
Example 7
q
Use the C classifier handshape to
indicate how thick the book is.

45. Is your ASL book really thick?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: YOUR ASL BOOK CL:C
Glossing in ASL
Example 7
Raise eyebrows for yes or no question
q
Use the C classifier handshape to
indicate how thick the book is.

46. Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 8

47. Don't you know my sister?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL:
Glossing in ASL
Example 8

48. Don't you know my sister?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: MY SISTER YOU DON'T-KNOW SHE
Glossing in ASL
Example 8
q

49. Don't you know my sister?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: MY SISTER YOU DON'T-KNOW SHE
Glossing in ASL
Example 8
q
Use the dash between don't and know to show it is one single gesture.

50. Don't you know my sister?Writing in English:
Glossing in ASL: MY SISTER YOU DON'T-KNOW SHE
Glossing in ASL
Example 8
q
Use the dash between don't and know to show it is one single gesture.
Use yes no question facial
expression. Eyebrows up.

51. Glossing in ASL

52. Glossing in ASL
Here's how to do it!
Use these symbols!

53. DON'T-- KNOW –Use a dash to show multiple words as one gesture.
+ + –Use plus to show repeated signs
q (y/nq or whq) –Question expression
n – Negative marker. Shake your head, "No."
t –Topic marker. Raise your eyebrows.
fs –Fingerspell the word. Use hypens.
CL –Use a classifier sign, e.g., CL:3 for vehicle,
CL:V for a standing person,
CL:bent V for a sitting person
CL: BB for a flat surface
Glossing in ASL

54. DON'T-- KNOW –Use a dash to show multiple words as one gesture.
+ + –Use plus to show repeated signs
q (y/nq or whq) –Question expression
n – Negative marker. Shake your head, "No."
t –Topic marker. Raise your eyebrows.
fs –Fingerspell the word. Use hypens.
CL –Use a classifier sign, e.g., CL:3 for vehicle,
CL:V for a standing person,
CL:bent V for a sitting person
CL: BB for a flat surface
Glossing in ASL

55. DON'T-- KNOW –Use a dash to show multiple words as one gesture.
+ + –Use plus to show repeated signs
q (y/nq or whq) –Question expression
n – Negative marker. Shake your head, "No."
t –Topic marker. Raise your eyebrows.
fs –Fingerspell the word. Use hypens.
CL –Use a classifier sign, e.g., CL:3 for vehicle,
CL:V for a standing person,
CL:bent V for a sitting person
CL: BB for a flat surface
Glossing in ASL

56. DON'T-- KNOW –Use a dash to show multiple words as one gesture.
+ + –Use plus to show repeated signs
q (y/nq or whq) –Question expression
n – Negative marker. Shake your head, "No."
t –Topic marker. Raise your eyebrows.
fs –Fingerspell the word. Use hypens.
CL –Use a classifier sign, e.g., CL:3 for vehicle,
CL:V for a standing person,
CL:bent V for a sitting person
CL: BB for a flat surface
Glossing in ASL

57. DON'T-- KNOW –Use a dash to show multiple words as one gesture.
+ + –Use plus to show repeated signs
q (y/nq or whq) –Question expression
n – Negative marker. Shake your head, "No."
t –Topic marker. Raise your eyebrows.
fs –Fingerspell the word. Use hypens.
CL –Use a classifier sign, e.g., CL:3 for vehicle,
CL:V for a standing person,
CL:bent V for a sitting person
CL: BB for a flat surface
Glossing in ASL

58. DON'T-- KNOW –Use a dash to show multiple words as one gesture.
+ + –Use plus to show repeated signs
q (y/nq or whq) –Question expression
n – Negative marker. Shake your head, "No."
t –Topic marker. Raise your eyebrows.
fs –Fingerspell the word. Use hypens.
CL –Use a classifier sign, e.g., CL:3 for vehicle,
CL:V for a standing person,
CL:bent V for a sitting person
CL: BB for a flat surface
Glossing in ASL

59. DON'T-- KNOW –Use a dash to show multiple words as one gesture.
+ + –Use plus to show repeated signs
q (y/nq or whq) –Question expression
n – Negative marker. Shake your head, "No."
t –Topic marker. Raise your eyebrows.
fs –Fingerspell the word. Use hypens.
CL –Use a classifier sign, e.g., CL:3 for vehicle,
CL:V for a standing person,
CL:bent V for a sitting person
CL: BB for a flat surface
ALWAYS USE CAPITAL LETTERS TO GLOSS IN ASL.
Glossing in ASL

60. DON'T-- KNOW –Use a dash to show multiple words as one gesture.
+ + –Use plus to show repeated signs
q (y/nq or whq) –Question expression
n – Negative marker. Shake your head, "No."
t –Topic marker. Raise your eyebrows.
fs –Fingerspell the word. Use hypens.
CL –Use a classifier sign, e.g., CL:3 for vehicle,
CL:V for a standing person,
CL:bent V for a sitting person
CL: BB for a flat surface
ALWAYS USE CAPITAL LETTERS TO GLOSS IN ASL.
Glossing in ASL