ASL History
These two men established the first free public deaf school in America, where ASL was birthed.
Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clarc
ASL is not solely for people who are DHH or interpreters or people who are related to DHH. It is for _____.
Everyone
American Sign Language is most similar to what other sign language?
French Sign Language
What do facial movements in ASL convey?
Grammatical information (and emotions)
What are sign names?
Names given to people by deaf people, usually based on a person's characteristics, personality, or something memorable about them
This girl inspired a certain man to learn how to become a deaf educator.
Alice Cogswell
Is deafness a disability to deaf people?
NO!
How many sign languages are there in the world?
300+
It has no written form.
What is glossing?
A written approximation of ASL using English words.
This the method for teaching deaf people how to communicate through sign language.
Manualism
What is a common misconception about ASL as a language?
It's "silent" version of English
How many signs does ASL have?
10,000+
No, deaf people can also be ASL interpreters.
How old is the oldest sign language?
5th century BC (use of hand gestures for communication)
Alexander Graham Bell was inspired not only by his deaf mother, but by his father Melville's works. What did his father do?
Create visible speech
The misconception that cochlear implants fix hearing is wrong. What is the reason?
Cochlear implants can provide a sense of sound for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, but it cannot completely cure deafness or cause someone to hear 100% of speech.
How long does it take to learn ASL?
The basics of the language can be learned in a simple 3-6 months, with increased fluency over the years.
Which hand is mainly used for signing? (dominant, non-dominant, or both)
Dominant (some signs require both)
What are deaf events?
A designated meetup for deaf individuals that is open to all signers, hearing or deaf (fosters community and helps signers improve their skills)
Alexander believed that deafness could be eliminated through ______
superior breeding
A common misconception some people have of deaf people regarding lip reading is
That all deaf people can read lips, very false. Not everyone has had the opportunity to learn how to lip read. In addition, lip reading is not very accurate. In most cases, only some parts of what is said can be accurately lip read.
How do babies pick up sign language?
Same way they pick up spoken languages!
What is the ASL interpreter dress code?
Fingerspell the alphabet.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z