In American Sign Language (ASL), the word "what" is shown with a special hand gesture. You hold both hands in front of you. Your palms face up and fingers are slightly spread apart. Then, you move your hands side to side. Keep the same position while doing this. A questioning facial expression often goes with this gesture. Raised eyebrows can show the sense of inquiry. The sign for "what" is used a lot in daily talks. It helps to ask questions or get clarification. Facial expressions are very important in ASL. They can change the meaning or strength of a sign. ASL culture values visual communication. Gestures like "what" are key to interacting well in the Deaf community.
by Serena Clark
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