Mythbusting about American Sign Language and Deaf Culture

Front

American Sign Language is related to:

Back

French Sign Language.

Answer explanation

American Sign Langauge used most Old French Sign Language because Laurent Clerc taught Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet sign language as they journeyed back to America to establish first school for the deaf in 1817.

We will revisit this topic in the spring.

Front

Percent of Deaf people married to other Deaf individuals?

Back

90 percent

Answer explanation

90% of Deaf people tend to be in relationships with other deaf persons for the sake of communication accessibility and empathy. 10% of Deaf people are brave to be in relationships with hearing people.

Word of caution: hearing people needs to maintain a sign language zone in order for the relationships with deaf people to flourish.

Front

Role of facial expressions, head movements, eye gaze, and mouth shapes in ASL:

Back

Grammatical (function of sentence)

Answer explanation

Eyebrows are used to show the functions of sentences and can be presented as questions or statements. Mouth morphemes are used to describe sizes (small and big) and distances (close and far) and time (recent and long time ago) and quality/degree (smart and genius; hot and flaming; wet and soaking).

Front

Focus on the signer's:

Back

face

Front

Getting a Deaf person's attention when they're not facing you:

Back

Tap their shoulder.

Answer explanation

Tap the Deaf person is a good option as long as you don't tap too hard.

Most Deaf people cannot hear so yelling is pointless.

It is okay to wave to get a Deaf person's attention but not too close as in the face.

It is not necessary to walk toward and stand in front of the Deaf person.

Front

Path blocked by signers conversing:

Back

Go ahead and walk through.

Answer explanation

Do walk through WITHOUT saying or signing "excuse me" and not stopping in the middle.

Front

Least effective communication strategy between Deaf and hearing people?

Back

Speech and lipreading.

Answer explanation

Speech and lipreading is the most least effective to communicate.

Writing back and forth (texting) is acceptable.

Using sign language interpreters is better.

Using sign language to communicate is the BEST effective to communicate.