Signing Naturally 98 Answers
If you have a video prompt asking "How long?", look for these visual cues:
| Visual Cue | Meaning | Likely Answer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Hand moves in a straight line once | Duration (It took X time) | 1 week / 2 months / 3 hours | | Hand moves back and forth / circles | Frequency (Every X time) | Every week / Monthly | | Fingerspell #BACK or use shoulder shift | Past continuous | For 2 weeks back | | Use of "FINISH" + number | Time elapsed since event | Finished 3 days ago | | Slow, heavy movement | Annoyingly long duration | "For a long 2 weeks" (frustration) |
For students of American Sign Language (ASL), few textbooks are as revered—or as challenging—as "Signing Naturally" (Levels 1-6) by Smith, Lentz, and Mikos. Published by DawnSignPress, this curriculum revolutionized ASL pedagogy by shifting away from rote memorization of isolated signs toward a focus on conversational fluency, non-manual markers (NMMs), and cultural understanding.
Among the most searched phrases on ASL study forums, tutoring sites, and Reddit threads is "Signing Naturally 98 answers."
If you have typed this phrase into a search engine, you are likely working through Unit 9, which covers "Making Requests" and "Telling What You Want Others to Do." Within this unit, Section 9.8 is a specific exercise often found in the homework or review sections of the workbook.
Before we dive into the structure of finding the answers correctly, it is crucial to understand that simply copying answers without understanding the linguistic principles behind them will hurt your progress in the long run. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of what 9.8 entails, how to approach it, and—where possible—explain the logic behind the correct responses.
In the "Signing Naturally" workbook (Units 1-6), exercises are numbered by unit and section. Unit 9 focuses on:
9.8 is rarely a simple multiple-choice quiz. More often, it is a production exercise where you must write the ASL gloss (capitalized English words representing signs) for a given situation, or it is a receptive exercise where you watch a video (usually an instructor signing) and answer comprehension questions.
Reality: Gloss is not ASL; it is a writing tool. Two different ASL teachers may gloss the same sentence differently (e.g., ME GO STORE vs STORE ME GO). The "answer" is graded based on whether your gloss accurately triggers the correct sign order and NMMs.
Below is a representative answer set for a typical 9.8 exercise. Use this to check your logic, not to copy directly, as your workbook page may have different prompts.
| Prompt (English Situation) | Correct ASL Gloss Answer (w/ NMMs) | Key Linguistic Feature |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Ask a friend if they want to go to the library after class. | _____q_________CLASS FINISH, LIBRARY YOU WANT GO WITH-me? | Time topic (CLASS FINISH) + Raised brows |
| Tell your roommate you do NOT want pizza for dinner. | ____neg________DINNER PIZZA NOT-WANT. | Head shake + Negative verb NOT-WANT |
| Ask a neighbor politely to turn down their music. (Command) | ___t___YOUR MUSIC, LITTLE REDUCE. | Topic (MUSIC) + Reduced intensity adverbial |
| Ask if you should bring a gift to a party. (Receptive – you watch signer) | (Signer shows): ____cond____PARTY GIFT BRING, MUST? | Conditional raised brows + Rhetorical question |
Prompt (Example): "Your friend asks you to go to a loud party. You do not want to go. Politely decline."
Wrong answer: PARTY NO (Too blunt).
Correct answer (9.8 style): PARTY LOUD. NOT-WANT GO.
Linguistic breakdown:
Reality: DawnSignPress aggressively removes leaked teacher’s edition PDFs. The only legal answer keys are sold to verified instructors. Most "free" 9.8 answers on Quizlet or Chegg contain serious errors (e.g., using English syntax, missing NMMs).
The Signing Naturally curriculum is the industry standard for learning American Sign Language (ASL), particularly at the collegiate level. Unit 9, titled "Neighborhoods and Communities," focuses on spatial awareness, giving directions, and discussing local environments. Homework 9.8, "Where to Turn," is a critical exercise that tests a student's ability to interpret movement and perspective from the signer's point of view. Answers for Signing Naturally Unit 9.8: Where to Turn
Homework 9.8 consists of several video clips where the signer provides directions to specific locations. Students must identify the correct sequence of turns and landmarks based on the signer’s perspective. Below are the verified answers for the eight "Turns" scenarios: Turn 1: Go straight down and turn left.
Turn 2: Go 3 blocks ahead, then turn right at the traffic light. Turn 3: Go straight ahead, pass the school, and turn left.
Turn 4: Go straight until you see a 7-Eleven, then turn left. Turn 5: At City Hall, turn right. Turn 6: Turn left on Oak Street.
Turn 7: Go straight down; when you see the Hyatt, go one more block; when you see Starbucks, turn right. signing naturally 98 answers
Turn 8: Travel straight until you see Starbucks, then turn left. Key Concepts in Unit 9.8
To master this unit, students must understand specific ASL grammar and vocabulary related to navigation:
Signer's Perspective: All directions are given from the viewpoint of the person signing. This means "left" and "right" are relative to the signer, requiring the observer to mentally flip the direction.
Landmarks: Using common locations like "School," "Traffic Light," "City Hall," or "Starbucks" to anchor the directions.
Distance and Measurement: Measuring travel by "Blocks" or using the sign "All the way down the street" to indicate continuous movement. Specific Vocabulary:
Traffic Light: Flicking fingers from a closed hand into a "5" handshape.
Intersection: Crossing the index fingers of both hands to form a "T". Go Past: A swiping motion where one hand passes the other. Practice Tips for Unit 9
If you are struggling with these exercises, consider these strategies commonly suggested by Quizlet instructors and Course Hero study guides:
Physicalize the Turns: As you watch the video, move your own hands or body to mirror the signer. This helps internalize the "Signer’s Perspective" rule.
Focus on Facial Grammar: Notice the "raise brows" used when naming a topic or landmark before giving the specific direction.
Review Related Sections: Unit 9.8 is closely linked to 9.5 (Giving Directions) and 9.11 (Locations), which use similar vocabulary for urban navigation.
Getting through Unit 9.8 of the Signing Naturally curriculum can be a bit of a hurdle. This unit focuses heavily on spatial agreement, complex storytelling, and the nuances of describing physical environments.
If you are looking for the Signing Naturally Unit 9.8 answers, it is important to understand the why behind the signs rather than just copying a list. Below is a breakdown of the key concepts covered in the homework and video exercises to help you master the material. Core Concepts in Signing Naturally 9.8
Unit 9 focuses on Describing Places. By lesson 8, the curriculum expects you to integrate several advanced ASL grammar rules simultaneously. 1. Spatial Agreement (The "Map" in Front of You)
The most common mistake students make in Unit 9.8 is forgetting to keep their locations consistent.
The Rule: Once you "set up" a building, a room, or a person in your signing space, they must stay there for the duration of the story.
The Practice: If you describe a park to your right, your eyes and your pointing (deixis) must consistently return to that right-hand side when referencing the park. 2. Locative Classifiers
You’ll notice the video exercises frequently use Classifier: 1 (for thin objects like poles or people) and Classifier: C (for bulky objects like refrigerators or trash cans).
Pro Tip: Pay attention to how the signer moves the classifier. A "downward" movement usually indicates where the object sits on the floor, while a "sweeping" movement indicates its relationship to other objects in the room. 3. Real-World Orientation
In the 9.8 workbook exercises, you are often asked to identify where things are in relation to the signer. Remember that ASL uses signer’s perspective. If the signer points to their left, they are talking about the area to their left (which will be to your right as the viewer). Unit 9.8 Workbook Breakdown If you have a video prompt asking "How long
While specific workbook answers can vary by edition (e.g., Level 1 vs. Level 2), most 9.8 assignments follow this structure:
Minidialogues: You are usually asked to identify the specific location being discussed (e.g., a post office, a specific floor of a building, or a corner store).
Common Answer Key Hint: Listen for "across from," "behind," or "next to." Giving Directions: The signer will give a series of turns.
Common Answer Key Hint: Follow the signer's eye gaze. They will "look" toward the street they are turning onto before they sign the turn.
Identifying Room Layouts: You may see a series of diagrams and have to pick which one matches the signer’s description.
Common Answer Key Hint: Focus on the "anchor" object. Usually, the signer starts with a large piece of furniture (like a bed or desk) and builds the rest of the room around it. How to Check Your Work
If you are stuck on a specific question in the Unit 9.8 homework:
Watch the eye gaze: The signer’s eyes almost always move to the location before their hands do.
Slow down the video: Use a 0.5x or 0.75x speed to see the handshapes for classifiers more clearly.
Draw it out: As the signer describes a space, use a pen and paper to "map" what they are saying in real-time. Why "Answer Keys" Can Be Risky
Relying solely on a leaked answer key for Signing Naturally often backfires during the "Expressive" portion of your exams. If you can’t visually track where the signer is placing objects in Unit 9.8, you will struggle to produce your own descriptions when it's time for your performance test.
Are you working on a specific part of Unit 9.8, like the "Giving Directions" section or the "Room Layout" descriptions?
Signing Naturally curriculum, focuses on giving directions, specifically mastering the terminology and spatial perspective required to explain "Where to Turn".
Below is a detailed guide to the answers and core concepts covered in the Unit 9.8 student workbook and homework assignments. Core Vocabulary for Directions (9.8)
To accurately answer workbook questions, you must recognize the following key signs: Turn right / Turn left: Moving the hand in the direction of the turn. Cross street:
A swiping motion representing crossing over an intersection. To the end of the street: Showing the limit or end of a path.
Indicated with a "jumping" motion to represent passing city blocks. Traffic light: Flicking fingers to represent the changing lights. A swiping motion moving one hand beyond the other. Workbook Activity: "Where to Turn?"
This exercise tests your ability to follow a signer’s perspective. Note that all directions are from the signer’s point of view , not the viewer's. Course Hero Answer/Action Signed Go straight ahead to the end of the street, then ahead to the traffic light, then turn right Go straight ahead, pass the school Homework 9.8: Turns 1–8
Students are often asked to translate written directions into signs or identify them from the video. Common correct responses for this section include: Course Hero on the farthest street just past Fir. at the stoplight on Elm. on Oak by the school. on Elm at the stoplight. on Maple by City Hall. on Oak street again by the school. Key Tips for Mastery Signer’s Perspective:
This is the most common area for errors. When the signer says "turn right," they mean In the "Signing Naturally" workbook (Units 1-6), exercises
right. If they are facing you, that turn will appear to go toward your left. Landmarks: Pay close attention to landmarks like city halls traffic lights , as these are used to anchor the turn.
Distance is often conveyed through "non-manual markers" (facial expressions). A "tilt" or squinted eyes can indicate a further distance than a relaxed expression. Course Hero
Unit 9.8 of the Signing Naturally curriculum focuses on mastering directional signs—such as turns and street navigation—by interpreting directions from the signer's perspective using specific landmarks. Typical homework answers for the "Where to Turn" section involve identifying specific turns onto streets like Fir, Elm, and Oak based on visual cues. For detailed worksheet breakdowns, visit Course Hero.
Signing Naturally Level 1 curriculum, focuses on Giving Directions: Where to Turn
. The lesson teaches how to use specific landmarks and street indicators to guide someone through a neighborhood. Course Hero Answer Key: Homework 9.8 (Turns 1–8)
The homework requires identifying specific turns based on video prompts. Below are the common correct responses: on the farthest street, just past Fir. Turn right at the traffic light on Elm. on Oak by the school. on Elm at the traffic light. Turn right on Maple by City Hall. on Oak Street again, near the school. Turn right Course Hero Key Vocabulary & Concepts
The lesson emphasizes "spatial agreement" and specific handshapes to describe movement through an intersection. Indicated by a "jumping" motion of a closed 5 handshape. Traffic Light:
Fingers flicking on the chin followed by a downward "claw" handshape. Intersection: Two index fingers forming a "T". To Go Past: Using two hands to show a swiping motion across each other. End of the Street:
Fingertips of one hand touching the middle of the opposite palm to show a boundary. Content Summary
In this unit, students learn to provide directions that include: Telling how many blocks to go straight. Landmarks:
Identifying places like schools, City Hall, or Starbucks as reference points. Specific Turns:
Identifying exactly which corner to turn at (e.g., "right there" at the corner). Course Hero
Study materials and practice tests for these concepts can be found on educational platforms like Course Hero Are you working on the workbook exercises or preparing for a receptive skills test on this unit?
and includes specific comprehension questions based on video dialogues. Signing Naturally 9.8: Where to Turn (Answers)
This lesson focuses on identifying directions and identifying specific turns in a sequence. Course Hero Dialogue 1: Go straight ahead, to Fir Street, turn Dialogue 2: Go straight ahead, to Fir Street, turn Dialogue 3: 3 blocks ahead, traffic light, turn Dialogue 4: Go straight ahead, pass the school, turn Course Hero Signing Naturally 9.8: Turns 1-8 (Comprehension)
In many versions of the workbook, section 9.8 also includes a story/dialogue often referred to as "The Hitchhiker" (which spans lessons 9.8 to 9.14). Below are the answers for the first segment of that sequence: Course Hero Hitchhiker Appearance:
A bald man with a large beard, wearing a plaid shirt and a backpack. Driver Appearance:
A man with short hair, wearing a white button-up shirt and a bow tie. Communication Method:
They use a notepad and pen to write to each other, or they use gestures. Destination: The hitchhiker wants to go to Interruption: A police car with flashing lights pulls them over. Violation: The driver was speeding. Speeding Detail: The driver was going 90 miles per hour The Result:
The police officer asks him to slow down and then waves him off without a ticket after realizing the driver (pretended to be) Deaf. Course Hero Key Resources for Homework Official Video Library:
If you have the book, you can find your unique access code inside the back cover to watch the videos at the DawnSignPress Online Video Library Flashcards: For vocabulary related to these units, offers sets for units 1–9 to help with sign recognition. Dawn Sign Press Do you need the answers for a specific dialogue number (1–4) or a different lesson within
Signing Naturally 1-6 Online Video Library - Dawn Sign Press