ASL BASICS
What does ASL stand for?
American Sign Language
What is the Deaf community centered around?
Shared language and culture
What is Gallaudet University?
A university for Deaf and hard of hearing students
What are non-manual markers?
Facial expressions and body movements
What is captioning used for?
To make videos accessible for Deaf/HoH people
Is ASL universal?
No, different countries have their own sign languages
What is “Deaf Gain”?
Viewing deafness as a cultural advantage, not a loss
Who was Laurent Clerc?
A Deaf teacher who helped bring ASL to the U.S.
Why is facial expression important in ASL?
It changes meaning and grammar
What is an interpreter’s role?
Translate spoken language into ASL
ASL uses what main sense?
Vision (sight)
Why is eye contact important in ASL?
It shows attention and is needed for communication
What major event happened in 1988 at Gallaudet?
Deaf President Now protest
What does role shifting mean?
Switching perspectives when signing different people
Name one Deaf advocate
True or False: ASL is just English on the hands
FALSE
What does it mean to “turn off voice” in Deaf spaces?
Use visual communication instead of speaking
Why was Deaf President Now important?
First Deaf president was chosen after student protest
What is ASL grammar based on?
Visual-spatial structure, not English word order
Why are ASL interpreters important at events?
They provide equal access to information
What is fingerspelling used for?
Spelling names/words without a sign
Name one value in Deaf culture
Communication access / visual communication / community
What year was ASL officially recognized academically?
1960s (linguistically recognized as a real language)
Why is speed not as important as clarity in ASL?
Because accuracy and expression matter more than speed
What is audism?
Discrimination against Deaf people