Learn How to Say What Is That in Sign Language

Understanding the Basic Question: "What Is That?" in American Sign Language

One of the most fundamental questions you can ask in American Sign Language (ASL) is "What is that?" This question forms the foundation of everyday conversation and helps people identify objects, clarify information, and engage in natural dialogue. The phrase combines two essential elements: a question marker and a reference to an object or concept. Learning this question opens doors to countless interactions, from shopping and dining to asking for directions or understanding unfamiliar items in your environment.

The beauty of this question in ASL is that it adapts to different contexts and situations. Whether you're pointing to something directly in front of you, referencing an object across the room, or asking about something in a photograph, the basic structure remains consistent while the specific signs and body language shift slightly. Understanding these nuances helps you communicate more naturally and be understood more clearly by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

In ASL, the question "What is that?" typically uses three main components: the sign for "what," the sign for "that" or "is," and often a pointing gesture or directional marker. The order and execution of these signs, combined with appropriate facial expressions and body positioning, create a clear interrogative statement. Unlike English, which relies heavily on word order and punctuation, ASL uses spatial relationships, movement quality, and facial grammar to convey meaning.

Practical takeaway: Start by recognizing that "What is that?" is more than just a literal translation of English words. It's a complete communicative package that includes hand shapes, positions, movements, and facial expressions working together to create meaning.

The Hand Shapes and Positions for "What"

The sign for "what" in ASL uses a specific hand shape and movement pattern that you can recognize and reproduce. To sign "what," you typically hold both hands in front of your body at approximately chest height, with your palms facing upward and your fingers slightly spread. Your hand shape resembles an open, questioning gesture. Both hands move upward slightly with a questioning or shrugging motion, and your facial expression shows genuine inquiry.

The positioning of the hands is important for clarity. Your hands should be in your neutral signing space, which is generally the area in front of your body between your waist and shoulders. This neutral space is where most general conversation happens in ASL. If you position the sign too far to the left or right, you might accidentally indicate that you're asking about something specific in that direction, which changes the meaning slightly.

The hand shape for "what" differs from other question signs you might learn. For instance, the sign for "who" uses different finger positioning, and "where" incorporates a different movement pattern. Getting the hand shape right ensures that deaf and hard-of-hearing people immediately understand you're asking about an object or concept, not about a person or location. The distinction matters for clear communication.

Many beginners make the mistake of keeping their hands too rigid. The sign for "what" should feel natural and conversational, with a slight movement that conveys openness and inquiry. Practicing in front of a mirror helps you see whether your hand shape matches the standard sign and whether your movements look natural rather than stiff.

Practical takeaway: Practice forming the hand shape for "what" until it becomes automatic, then focus on making the movement smooth and accompanied by appropriate facial expressions of genuine questioning.

Adding the Directional Component with Pointing and "That"

After signing "what," the next crucial element is indicating which object or concept you're asking about. In ASL, this typically involves pointing or using directional signs to specify location. The sign for "that" or the act of pointing serves as the directional marker in your question. If you're asking about something directly in front of you, you would point or direct your body and gaze toward that object while signing the question.

Pointing in ASL is not rude or casual as it might be in English conversation. Instead, pointing is a grammatical tool that helps establish reference points in space. When you point to an object, you're creating what linguists call "localization," which means you're marking a specific location in your signing space that relates to that object. This helps your conversation partner understand exactly what you're asking about, especially in environments where multiple objects are present.

The direction of your point matters significantly. If you're asking about an object to your left, you would direct your point and gaze in that direction while signing "what." This directional information is integral to the question itself, not an addition to it. Your head tilt, eye gaze, and body lean all work together with your pointing to clarify your intent. Some signers use a more open-hand gesture instead of a single-finger point, especially when indicating larger objects or spaces.

In situations where you can't point directly because the object isn't physically present, you can establish a reference location beforehand and then point to that established space. For example, if discussing a dog you saw earlier, you might establish that the dog is represented in a specific location in your signing space, and then point to that location while asking about its characteristics. This technique demonstrates how ASL uses space as a meaningful grammatical tool.

Practical takeaway: Remember that pointing is a necessary grammatical feature in ASL, not an informal gesture. Practice combining your point with the other signs in the question to create a cohesive, clear interrogative statement.

Facial Grammar and Body Language That Completes the Question

One of the most important aspects of asking "What is that?" in ASL involves your facial expressions and body language. English speakers rely heavily on inflection and punctuation to show that they're asking a question, but ASL uses what's called "non-manual markers" or non-manual signals to accomplish this. These include raising your eyebrows, tilting your head slightly, and sometimes opening your mouth slightly. These signals are grammatically required in ASL, not optional embellishments.

When asking "What is that?" your eyebrows should raise noticeably as you sign. This raised eyebrow position signals to your conversation partner that you're asking a genuine question, not making a statement. If you sign the same hand movements without the raised eyebrows, the meaning becomes ambiguous or might be interpreted as a statement rather than a question. The difference between a question and a statement in ASL often depends entirely on these facial markers.

Your head position also contributes to the question form. Many signers tilt their head slightly forward and to the side when asking questions, creating a physical posture that mimics questioning body language in many cultures. This head tilt, combined with the raised eyebrows and forward lean, creates a complete interrogative expression. The intensity of these non-manual markers can also convey emotion: a more exaggerated expression shows greater curiosity or confusion, while a subtle expression shows casual inquiry.

Your mouth shape can also contribute to the question. While you don't need to speak English words while signing, some signers use a slight mouth position or mouthing that corresponds to the English word "what," which can add clarity, especially for hard-of-hearing individuals who might use some speechreading. However, this is optional and varies among signers and signing communities. The essential element is always the raised eyebrows and questioning body posture.

Practical takeaway: Practice signing "what is that?" while watching yourself in a mirror, paying special attention to maintaining raised eyebrows and appropriate head positioning throughout the question. These facial elements are as important as your hand shapes and movements.

Common Contexts and Variations in Everyday Situations

The basic form of "What is that?" adapts across different real-world situations. In a restaurant, you might use this question to ask about unfamiliar menu items. At a store, you might ask about products you don't recognize. At work, you might ask colleagues about equipment or procedures. The core signs remain the same, but contextual factors influence how you execute the signs and what additional information you might include before or after the question.

In some situations, you might want to ask "What is that thing?" or "What is that object?" To add specificity, you can incorporate the sign for "thing" or a specific classifier before asking the question. Classifiers in ASL are hand shapes that represent objects based on their characteristics. For instance, a classifier might show that you're asking about a small, round object versus a large, flat object. This helps narrow down what you're asking about before the conversation partner responds.

When asking about something abstract rather than physical, the question remains structurally the same, but you might establish a reference point differently. For example,