Understanding the Key Similarities and Differences Between ASL and English

American Sign Language (ASL) is a full and natural language. People in the Deaf community, those with hearing loss, and even some hearing individuals use it every day. ASL uses facial expressions, hand shapes, and body movements to share meaning.

Although ASL is a language like any spoken one, it’s not the same as English. It’s visual instead of spoken or written. Thanks to video calls and online platforms, learning ASL has never been easier. Below, we’ll explore how ASL compares to English—where they match and where they differ.

Similarities Between ASL and English

If you speak English, you already know more about ASL than you might think. Some parts of the grammar are the same.

For example, both ASL and English often follow a Subject-Verb-Object order. That means a sentence like “Dogs eat apples” stays in the same order in ASL.

Both languages also express tense—past, present, or future. In English, we change verb endings. In ASL, we usually use a time word like “yesterday” or “tomorrow” at the start of the sentence to show when something happened.

You might be surprised to learn that facial expressions and gestures also connect the two. In English, we raise eyebrows or use hand gestures to show feelings or stress a point. In ASL, these visual cues are part of the grammar. Facial expressions help show questions, emotions, or tone.

Think about how often you use your hands to communicate—giving a thumbs up, pointing, or waving. ASL takes these natural actions and turns them into a full, expressive language.

Key Differences Between ASL Grammar and English?

Even with these similarities, ASL and English have major differences. ASL follows its own rules, especially when it comes to how signs are built and how sentences are formed.

1. Pragmatics – How Meaning Is Shared

ASL expresses meaning in ways that spoken English can’t. Instead of relying on word order or tone of voice, ASL uses visual space, facial expressions, and hand movements to add emphasis and intent.

In fact, context plays a big role in ASL. The direction of a sign or a change in facial expression can completely shift the meaning of a sentence. English speakers might raise their eyebrows to show surprise. In ASL, that same gesture might turn a statement into a question.

As a result, this visual system allows for rich and layered communication—even without a single spoken word.

2. Phonology – The Building Blocks of Signs

Spoken English uses phonemes, or the smallest units of sound, to form words. ASL builds its signs from visual features instead. These include:

• Hand shape

• Palm direction

• Location on the body or in space

• Movement

• Facial expression

Each of these features changes a sign’s meaning. Together, they work like letters and sounds in spoken language.

Additionally, ASL uses fingerspelling to spell out names, places, or English words without standard signs. This makes it a helpful bridge between English and ASL, especially for brand names or borrowed terms.

3. Syntax – Word Order and Sentence Structure

English usually sticks to Subject-Verb-Object order:

“I went to the store yesterday.”

However, ASL often uses topic-comment structure or Time-Topic-Comment forms:

“Yesterday, store I go.”

Because of this, signers can emphasis on what matters most in a sentence. Visual clarity guides the structure—whatever helps the idea come across best.

While ASL can match English structure in simple cases, it doesn’t rely on strict word order. Instead, facial expressions and space help organize information.

4. Morphology – How Words Change

English changes word forms by adding prefixes and suffixes. For example, we add “-ed” to show past tense, like “walked.”

On the other hand, ASL changes words by altering how signs look and move. You might show repeated action by repeating a sign. You can sign faster to show urgency, or add a facial expression to show emotion or tense.

ASL also doesn’t use articles like “a” or “the.” Instead of spoken pronouns, signers use pointing and spatial references. Once someone or something is placed in a spot in signing space, you can refer back to it by pointing—an elegant and efficient way to show relationships and keep conversations clear.

Variety and Regional Differences in ASL

Like English, ASL varies by region, age, and community. Some signs change based on where people live. Just as someone from Boston might say a word differently than someone from Texas, ASL users also show regional differences in how they sign.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders explains:

“ASL has regional accents and dialects… the rhythm of signing, pronunciation, slang, and signs used all vary. Age and gender can also affect how someone signs.”

These differences make ASL a living, growing language, just like English.

ASL is a Language of Its Own

ASL and English both help people connect, but they do it in very different ways. ASL’s visual grammar, flexible sentence structure, and layered meaning make it both unique and powerful. Moreover, it reflects the diverse cultures, regions, and people who use it.

By learning ASL, you gain more than a new skill—you gain a new way to connect with others and see the world.

At LanguageBird, we offer one-to-one online ASL lessons with experienced Deaf and hearing instructors. You’ll learn grammar, vocabulary, culture, and confidence—all from the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re learning for fun, school credit, or personal connection, our team is excited to help you get started.