Which category of ASL pronouns shows ownership and can refer to both the owner and what is owned?

• A. Possessive
• B. Reflexive
• C. Demonstrative
• D. Honorific

Answer: (A)

Ownership is shown with possessive pronouns in ASL. These signs indicate that something belongs to someone, and they can refer to either the owner or the item owned depending on context. For example, signing my before a noun marks who owns the item, while using a standalone form like mine can refer to the owned object when the owner is clear from context. This ability to point to both sides of the relationship—the person who owns and the thing that is owned—is what makes this category the one that conveys ownership. Other pronouns don’t carry that same dual role: reflexive figures reference back to the subject performing an action, demonstratives indicate which referent is near or far, and honorifics convey respect rather than ownership.