To sign 'how can I help you', start by forming the sign for 'help' by making a thumbs-up with your dominant hand and placing it on your flat, palm-up non-dominant hand. Move both hands forward together towards the person you are addressing to indicate 'I help you'. Be sure to furrow your eyebrows to show you are asking a 'how' question.
Sign 'WELCOME STORE', then use the directional 'HELP' sign moving towards the customer while furrowing your eyebrows.
Sign 'I HAVE FREE TIME', followed by moving the 'HELP' sign forward to offer your assistance.
Sign 'YOU SEEM CONFUSED', then ask the question by moving the 'HELP' sign forward with a questioning face.
Sign 'WELCOME STORE', then use the directional 'HELP' sign moving towards the customer while furrowing your eyebrows.
Sign 'I HAVE FREE TIME', followed by moving the 'HELP' sign forward to offer your assistance.
Sign 'YOU SEEM CONFUSED', then ask the question by moving the 'HELP' sign forward with a questioning face.
No, ASL is a distinct language and doesn't translate English word-for-word. The directional movement of 'HELP' combined with furrowed eyebrows conveys the entire phrase 'how can I help you' naturally and efficiently.
Because 'HELP' is a directional verb, you simply reverse the movement. Start the sign closer to the other person and move it inward toward your own chest, while raising your eyebrows for a yes/no question.
In ASL, facial expressions provide grammatical information. Furrowed eyebrows indicate a 'wh-question' (who, what, where, when, why, how). Using this expression with the 'HELP' sign lets the person know you are asking 'how' you can assist them.
