Signing Naturally
Units 1-6
Units 1-6
Which non-manual markers are used for yes/no questions?
Raised eye brows and head lean forward.
Give one example of a negation sign in ASL.
Not, none, never, can't, don't-like, don't-want.
Which signed language had the biggest influence on ASL?
French Sign Language (LSF=langue des signes française)
Who was George Veditz?
A Deaf leader, visionary, and former president of the NAD. Known for filming "Preservation of the Sign Language" to protect and preserve ASL.
In Deaf in America, Deaf identity is described as what kind of identity?
Cultural and linguistic identity, not just medical.
What is the typical ASL sentence structure used in most statements?
Topic-Comment (Topic-Description)
What is one non-manual marker that signals negation?
Head shake, slight frown, tight lips.
Name one way Residential Schools helped shape Deaf culture and ASL.
Brought Deaf children together, further developed consistency with ASL, cultural traditions were passed down, Deaf teachers served as language models, social, academic, and identity formation.
What is Marie Jean Philip known for in Deaf education?
Champion of bilingual-bicultural (Bi-Bi) Deaf education. Advocate for Deaf children's right to ASL, helped ASL gain academic recognition, worked at the Learning Center for Deaf Children.
In Through Deaf Eyes, name one barrier Deaf people have historically faced.
Lack of interpreters, discrimination, oralism, limited education access, employment barriers, technology limitations.
Name two features of ASL WH-questions.
Furrowed brows, head forward, body leaning forward slightly, or WH-word usually at the end.
Describe three different ways ASL shows negation.
Head shake, using not, using negative incorporated signs (ie. don't-want), using none, using negative facial expressions.
What major impact did the Milan Conference of 1880 have on Deaf education?
It banned sign languages in Deaf schools and enforced oralism, removed sign language from classrooms, Deaf teachers lost positions, ASL/Deaf culture were suppressed.
What is Clayton Valli famous for?
Deaf poet and linguist, famous works like Dandelions, helped prove AS: poetry has structure, helped legitimize ASL academically.
How have Deaf Clubs and schools supported Deaf community life?
Centers for social life, places where ASL is passed on, build identity and belonging, support Deaf role-models, strengthen cultural traditions.
Describe what contrastive structure is and explain when you use it.
Using two locations in signing space (right/left).
Shifting body slightly between them.
Used to compare or contrast two things, people, or ideas.
Common in descriptions, comparisons, and narratives.
Sign this sentence using correct negation, "I don't like coffee."
coffee I like (shake-head)
I don't-like coffee
coffee I not-like (negative head shake)
Explain how oralism affected Deaf people's access to language and learning.
Prevented Deaf children from using their native language, led to language deprivation, accessing curriculum was more difficult, sign language was forbidden, increased isolation.
Explain Veditz's main message in "Preservation of the Sign Language"
ASL is a treasure worth preserving, oralism threatened to destroy ASL, film/video is a legitimate mode of preserving a language/culture.
Key Quote "As long as we have Deaf people on earth, we will have sign language."
Describe one example from Through Deaf Eyes where the Deaf community adapted to technological or social barriers.
The creation fo Deaf clubs, use of TTY's, captioning, video relay, etc.
Explain how role-shift works and describe a situation where you would use it to show two different perspectives.
A technique where the signer takes on the perspective of a character.
Includes body shift, eye gaze, clear and distinctive non-manual markers.
Used for dialogue, storytelling, reenacting events, describing viewpoints.
Explain how negation in ASL combines manual and non-manual components.
Give two examples demonstrating different types of negation.
Negation used both signs and non-manual markers to show negation.
I never go-there (shake-head)
soda I don't-want
money none
Describe how ASL developed from a mix of languages, including French Sign Language and American village/home sign systems, and explain why this makes ASL not a signed form of English.
ASL descended partly from French Sign Language, combined with Martha's Vineyard Sign Language, influence from home/village signs in early America.
ASL has its own grammar, syntax, and complex linguistic system.
Explain how Marie Jean Philip and Clayton Valli contributed to Deaf culture and language, and why their work still matters for ASL students today.
Both increased visibility and respect for ASL.
They influenced Deaf culture, education, and language rights.
They validated ASL as a full, natural language, that can and is used by not only Deaf and HoH folks but many others for various reasons.
Using both Deaf in America and Through Deaf Eyes, explain why Deaf people are a cultural and linguistic community, not simply "people who cannot hear." Include at least two cultural values and one shared historical experience.
Deaf people share values: visual orientation, collectivism, storytelling, and ASL pride.
Shared experiences: oralism, discrimination, exclusion from communication.
ASL + Deaf schools ~ reinforce identity, Deaf clubs ~ preserve culture
Deaf people are a minority culture, not a "broken hearing people."