To sign "what do you want", start with both hands in front of you, palms facing up and fingers slightly curved like claws. Pull both hands toward your body to sign "want". Then, open your hands flat with palms still facing up and shake them slightly side to side to sign "what". Furrow your eyebrows throughout the entire sequence, as this indicates you are asking a "wh-" question.
Sign 'lunch', and then follow it with the phrase 'what do you want', making sure to keep your eyebrows furrowed to indicate the question.
Sign 'today', then 'do' (using the 'do-do' sign), and finish with 'what do you want' while maintaining eye contact and furrowed eyebrows.
Establish the topic first by signing 'store', and then ask your question by signing 'what do you want'.
Sign 'lunch', and then follow it with the phrase 'what do you want', making sure to keep your eyebrows furrowed to indicate the question.
Sign 'today', then 'do' (using the 'do-do' sign), and finish with 'what do you want' while maintaining eye contact and furrowed eyebrows.
Establish the topic first by signing 'store', and then ask your question by signing 'what do you want'.
In ASL, pronouns like 'you' are often implied by your eye contact and body orientation. By looking directly at the person while signing 'want what' with furrowed eyebrows, it is clearly understood as 'what do *you* want'.
In ASL, facial expressions act as grammar. Furrowed eyebrows are the grammatical marker for 'wh-' questions (questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no). It tells the receiver that you are asking for specific information rather than a yes/no confirmation.
Yes! In casual conversation, simply signing 'want' while furrowing your eyebrows and leaning forward slightly is often enough to convey 'what do you want?'. Adding the sign for 'what' at the end just makes the question more explicit.
