Mythbusting about American Sign Language and Deaf Culture

What is American Sign Language?

Pick two correct answers.

• a visual form of English

• a language that relies on miming

• a language capable of expressing abstract ideas

• a language using picture-like gestures to express ideas and concepts

• a language utilizing space and movement to convey meaning

Answer explanation

ASL is not a visual code for English, written or spoken. ASL is not a language of pictures an pantomime.

Historically, American Sign Language is related to:

• British Sign Language

• Swedish Sign Language

• French Sign Language

• German Sign Language

• Italian 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.

American Sign Language is used by most Deaf people in which of the following countries?

• Brazil

• Canada

• England

• Mexico

• United States

Answer explanation

ASL is not an universal language understood by all signers in the world.

Brazil has Lingua Brasileira de Sinais.

England has British Sign Language.

Mexico has lengua de señas mexicana.

Approximately what percent of Deaf people who marry are married to other Deaf people?

• 10 percent

• 25 percent

• 50 percent

• 75 percent

• 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.

American Sign Language is traditionally handed down from generation to generation through:

• Deaf family members

• Deaf adults in the community

• Residential school for the Deaf (boarding schools)

• sign language teachers

• classroom teachers for the deaf students

Answer explanation

Deaf adults in the community are a possibility if the old generations interact with young generations for periods of time and at high frequency.

The classroom teachers for deaf students tend to be hearing and might not use sign language and are not good models for handing down American Sign Language.

The role of facial expressions (eyebrows), head movements, eye gaze, and mouth morphemes (mouth shapes) in American Sign Language is primarily:

• grammatical

  (function of sentence)

• stylistic

  (methods and techniques used in creating sentences)

• emotive

  (expressing emotion in sentences)

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).

While watching another person sign, it is appropriate to focus on the signer's:

• hands

• chest area (signing space)

• face

Among ASL signers, fingerspelling is mainly used in what ways?

• interchangeably with any sign

• to specify brand names and titles

• as an artistic form of signing

• to give names to people and places

American Sign Language makes use of the space in front of a signer's body to: (pick all that apply)

• convey distance

• contrast two people, places, things, or ideas

• express time concepts

• indicate sentence types

To get the attention of a Deaf person who is looking the other way, you should:

• yell as loud as you can

• tap the Deaf person's shoulder

• wave in the Deaf person's face

• go around and stand in front of the Deaf person

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.