To sign 'can you help me', start by forming the sign for 'help'. Place your dominant hand in a 'thumbs up' shape (an 'A' handshape with the thumb extended) and rest it on your flat, palm-up non-dominant hand. Move both hands together towards your chest to indicate that the help is coming to you. Because this is a yes/no question, it is crucial to raise your eyebrows, widen your eyes slightly, and tilt your head forward as you bring the sign toward your body.
Start by signing that you are lost. Then, transition smoothly into the directional 'help-me' sign by moving the 'help' handshape towards your chest. Remember to raise your eyebrows and tilt your head to clearly show you are asking a question.
Establish the topic by signing 'homework' first. Then, look at the person you are asking and bring the 'help' sign toward your body. Your raised eyebrows will naturally translate the 'can you' portion of the English sentence without needing extra signs.
Begin with the sign for 'please' by rubbing your open flat hand in a circular motion on your chest. Then, form the 'help' sign and pull it toward yourself while raising your eyebrows to ask the question politely and clearly.
Start by signing that you are lost. Then, transition smoothly into the directional 'help-me' sign by moving the 'help' handshape towards your chest. Remember to raise your eyebrows and tilt your head to clearly show you are asking a question.
Establish the topic by signing 'homework' first. Then, look at the person you are asking and bring the 'help' sign toward your body. Your raised eyebrows will naturally translate the 'can you' portion of the English sentence without needing extra signs.
Begin with the sign for 'please' by rubbing your open flat hand in a circular motion on your chest. Then, form the 'help' sign and pull it toward yourself while raising your eyebrows to ask the question politely and clearly.
No, you do not need to sign 'can' separately. In ASL, yes/no questions are indicated through facial expressions rather than specific vocabulary words. By raising your eyebrows and tilting your head slightly forward while signing 'help me', you automatically convey the 'can you' part of the phrase.
No, pointing to yourself is unnecessary here. 'Help' is a directional verb, which means the movement of the sign indicates the subject and object. By pulling the sign toward your chest, you are already showing that the help is directed at you.
To ask 'can I help you?', you use the exact same handshapes, but reverse the movement. Start the 'help' sign near your own chest and move it outward toward the other person. Keep your eyebrows raised to ensure it remains a question!
