Unit 1

Question 1

What are the 5 strategies for learning ASL?

Answer 1

1. Build a language community
2. Minimize reliance on English as you listen or converse in ASL
3. Focus on meaning rather than individual signs
4. Focus on the signer’s face, not one the hands
5. Show you understand the signer

Question 2

What are the 2 reasons its important to focus on the signer’s face and not their hands?

Answer 2

1. A lot of grammar is in the facial expression so you must see both the face and sign to understand what is said
2. Its considered rude to look away from the signer’s face while they are signing to you

Question 3

When you fingerspell a word, you should:

a. work on the continuous flow of one letter to the next
b. work on spelling the word letter by letter

Answer 3

a. work on the continuous flow of one letter to the next

Question 4

The visual space between your hand and your listener’s face

Answer 4

Sightline

Question 5

How should you hold you arm when fingerspelling?

Answer 5

Keep your elbow down and arm relaxed. Orient your hand toward the person and within the sightline.

Question 6

ASL speakers ask questions using facial expressions, head movements, and pauses called

Answer 6

non-manual markers

Question 7

What non-manual markers do you use when asking a wh-word question?

Answer 7

• furrow brows together
• lean head forward slightly without breaking eye contact with the listener
• hold the last sign (which should be the wh-sign) until your listener starts to answer

Question 8

Where should you focus your eyes when watching someone sign? Why?

Answer 8

The signers face because critical grammar is conveyed with facial expressions, and if you look away, you could miss the whole message.

Question 9

Which way does your palm face for:
1-5?
6-9?
11-15?

Answer 9

1-5: palm face in
6-9: palm face out
11-15: palm face in

Question 10

On numbers 11 and 12, how do you form them?

Answer 10

• flick out from underneath the thumb twice

- #12, keep extended fingers separated

Question 11

Who sets the communication mode?

Answer 11

the Deaf person

Question 12

What are some methods that Deaf people use to communicate with others?

Answer 12

• signing
• gestures
• writing or typing
• third person
• lipreading or speech

Question 13

Do Deaf people prefer lipreading?

Answer 13

No, it often leads easily to misunderstandings

Question 14

Are you supposed to let the Deaf person know you sign?

Answer 14

Yes

Question 15

You are supposed to avoid doing this unless you are relaying the information in ASL

Answer 15

Avoid spoken English or using voice

Question 16

As you state the person’s gender, what are you supposed to do with your eyebrows?

Answer 16

• raise your eyebrows and keep them raised while you finish identifying the person

Question 17

What do you mention when providing a brief description of a person?

Answer 17

• mention things that will easily distinguish the person from others surrounding them

Question 18

After giving the description of the person, what should you do?

Answer 18

• point out the person with your index finger and arm slightly bent and glance at them

Question 19

After the listener confirms they know who youre talking about, what should you do?

Answer 19

Can nod to affirm

Question 20

When getting someones attention by waving, how big should the wave be?

Answer 20

Depends on how close you are to the person you are trying to get the attention of:

• across the room merits a big wave
• across a small table gets a slight wave that falls into their field of vision

Question 21

How should you tap someone who is close to you or is facing away from you?

Answer 21

• tap their shoulder or upper arm gently but firmly 2 or 3 times

Question 22

What is done when a signer is not close enough to the intended person to get his or her attention?

Answer 22

Using an intermediary who will either tap or wave to get the person’s attention.