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ASL vs. English: What’s the Difference?

American Sign Language (ASL) and English are very different languages. English is spoken and written, while ASL is a visual language using hand signs, facial expressions, and body movements.

ASL has its own grammar. English follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, like “I eat food.” ASL often follows a Topic-Comment structure, like “FOOD I EAT.” ASL does not use small words like “is,” “the,” or “a.” Instead, meaning is shown through signs, expressions, and context.

ASL also uses space and movement to show ideas. For example, if talking about two people, you can sign one person on the left and the other on the right, then refer back to those spaces. English cannot do this.

Facial expressions are very important in ASL. Raising eyebrows shows a yes/no question, while furrowing brows shows a “wh-” question like “Who?” or “Why?” Head tilts and body shifts also change meaning. In English, tone of voice changes meaning, but ASL uses face and body instead.

Another key difference is fingerspelling. ASL users spell names or words that don’t have a sign, but this is not the same as writing English. ASL is not just “English on the hands”—it is a completely separate language with its own rules.

Because ASL is visual, it expresses ideas differently. English speakers might say, “I went to the store before going home.” In ASL, this could be signed as “STORE I GO, HOME I GO” with movements showing the order. ASL focuses on clear meaning, while English depends on grammar rules and sentence structure.

Understanding these differences helps people see that ASL is a full language, not just gestures. It is rich, expressive, and unique, just like spoken languages.