Which type of ASL verb encodes information about singular and plural objects and can be directed in space?

• A. Indicating Verbs
• B. Reciprocal Verbs
• C. Locative Verbs
• D. Depicting Verbs

Answer: (A)

Indicating verbs are signs that carry information about who or what is involved by directing the action in space. They can show singular or plural objects through how they reference the referent’s location in space and how the movement is directed toward that referent. In other words, the verb isn’t just a plain action—it maps the subject to a specific referent in space and can reflect quantity by how many referents you set up or address in a given spatial frame. This directional, spatially grounded quality is what lets you convey both who is affected and whether there is one item or many.

This type stands out because it integrates who is involved, the direction of the action, and sometimes the number of objects all in one signed unit. By directing the verb toward a location in space that represents the recipient or the object, you’re encoding both the interaction and the quantity contextually.

Reciprocal verbs, by contrast, focus on actions done to or between two or more referents in a mutual way (like “each other”); they’re not primarily about directing the action to show singular versus plural objects. Locative verbs describe where something is or where it goes, emphasizing location rather than the number of objects involved. Depicting verbs visually imitate scenes or actions in space but don’t inherently encode object quantity or focus the action toward a specific referent in the same way indicating verbs do.