CASLI Deaf Culture 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the context of Deaf culture, what is 'contact signing'?
- A formal signed system created by educators to teach Deaf students English grammar
- A naturally occurring language variety that arises when ASL and English come into contact, blending features of both (Correct answer)
- The process of touching a Deaf-Blind person's hands to communicate in ASL
- A tactile form of sign language used only in Deaf-Blind communities
Correct answer: A naturally occurring language variety that arises when ASL and English come into contact, blending features of both
Contact signing (previously called Pidgin Sign English) is a naturally occurring variety used by Deaf and hearing signers that blends ASL vocabulary and structure with English influences.
Question 2: What is the significance of eye contact in Deaf cultural norms?
- Avoiding eye contact is polite when an interpreter is present
- Maintaining eye contact is essential and considered a sign of respect and engagement in Deaf communication (Correct answer)
- Eye contact is only important during formal presentations or Deaf events
- Deaf cultural norms on eye contact mirror hearing cultural norms and vary by individual
Correct answer: Maintaining eye contact is essential and considered a sign of respect and engagement in Deaf communication
In Deaf culture, maintaining eye contact during signed communication is crucial — breaking eye contact signals inattention or disrespect and disrupts the visual communication channel.
Question 3: What does the term 'mainstreaming' mean in Deaf education, and what is a common Deaf cultural critique of it?
- Mainstreaming means teaching ASL as the primary language; Deaf critics say it neglects English literacy
- Mainstreaming places Deaf students in general education classrooms; critics argue it often isolates Deaf students from peers and Deaf cultural transmission (Correct answer)
- Mainstreaming refers to including hearing students in Deaf residential schools; critics say it dilutes Deaf culture
- Mainstreaming is a hearing aid fitting program; critics note its high failure rate
Correct answer: Mainstreaming places Deaf students in general education classrooms; critics argue it often isolates Deaf students from peers and Deaf cultural transmission
Mainstreaming places Deaf students in hearing classrooms, often with interpreter support, but critics argue this frequently isolates Deaf students socially and cuts them off from Deaf peers and cultural mentors.
Question 4: Which signed system was designed to represent English grammar visually and is commonly used in some educational settings?
- Cued Speech
- Signed Exact English (SEE) (Correct answer)
- Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE)
- Rochester Method
Correct answer: Signed Exact English (SEE)
Signed Exact English (SEE) is a manually coded English system that uses signs to represent every morpheme of spoken English, designed to support English literacy development.
Question 5: What is the Deaf community's general perspective on 'passing' as hearing?
- Passing as hearing is universally celebrated as a marker of successful integration
- Many in the Deaf community view attempts to pass as hearing as a denial of Deaf identity and can lead to psychological stress (Correct answer)
- Passing as hearing is considered a practical skill taught in all Deaf schools
- The Deaf community encourages passing as hearing only in professional work environments
Correct answer: Many in the Deaf community view attempts to pass as hearing as a denial of Deaf identity and can lead to psychological stress
Attempting to 'pass' as hearing — concealing one's deafness to fit into hearing society — is often seen within the Deaf community as a rejection of Deaf identity and can cause internal conflict and psychological harm.
Question 6: How do Deaf cultural norms typically handle interruptions during a signed conversation?
- Interruptions are considered rude in all contexts and are strictly avoided
- Touching someone lightly on the arm or waving in their visual field is an accepted way to get attention without being considered rude (Correct answer)
- Interruptions are handled by using a specific 'pause' sign before speaking
- Deaf cultural norms do not address interruptions, leaving it to individual preference
Correct answer: Touching someone lightly on the arm or waving in their visual field is an accepted way to get attention without being considered rude
In Deaf culture, lightly tapping someone's shoulder or arm, or waving in their peripheral vision, is the culturally accepted way to gain someone's attention and is not considered rude.
Question 7: What is 'DeafBlind' culture, and how does it relate to broader Deaf culture?
- DeafBlind individuals are considered part of the blind community only, with no connection to Deaf culture
- DeafBlind individuals often identify with both Deaf and DeafBlind communities, using tactile ASL and other methods, with their own cultural practices (Correct answer)
- DeafBlind culture is identical to Deaf culture because both rely on sign language
- DeafBlind people exclusively use Braille and have no connection to signed language communities
Correct answer: DeafBlind individuals often identify with both Deaf and DeafBlind communities, using tactile ASL and other methods, with their own cultural practices
DeafBlind individuals often maintain ties to Deaf culture while also developing distinct DeafBlind cultural practices, including tactile ASL, protactile communication, and DeafBlind-specific community events.
CASLI Deaf Culture 4
In the context of Deaf culture, what is 'contact signing'?