What is the 'Rule of 9' used for in ASL numeral incorporation?

• A. Signs for time, money, height, and sports scores
• B. Signs for age
• C. Signs for calendar dates
• D. Signs for counting objects

Answer: (A)

Numeral incorporation is when a signer blends a number into another sign so the amount and the unit come through in one motion. The Rule of 9 is a guideline that shows numeral incorporation is most natural in four common contexts: time, money, height, and sports scores. In these signs you typically embed the number directly into the sign for the unit, rather than signing the number and the unit separately. That makes expressions like telling what time it is, stating an amount of money, indicating height, or reporting a score quicker and more fluent. For example, when giving a time, a money amount, a height, or a score, the number tends to be incorporated into the corresponding sign. Other contexts such as age, calendar dates, or counting objects usually use separate number signs or counting, so they aren’t governed by this rule.