NIC ASL Proficiency 5

Question 1

Which area of the body is considered the 'neutral space' in ASL signing?

Accepted Answer

The area in front of the torso between waist and chin

Answer

Neutral space in ASL refers to the area in front of the signer's body, roughly between the waist and chin, where many signs are articulated.

Question 2

What is 'initialized signing' in ASL?

Accepted Answer

Using the first letter of an English word as the handshape for a sign

Answer

Initialized signing borrows the first-letter handshape of the corresponding English word into an ASL sign, such as using a 'W' handshape for WATER.

Question 3

In ASL, which sentence type is marked by furrowed brows and a wh-sign (WHO, WHAT, WHERE, etc.)?

Accepted Answer

Wh-question

Answer

Wh-questions in ASL are marked by furrowed (lowered) brows held throughout the question, along with the wh-sign typically placed at or near the end.

Question 4

A Deaf individual corrects the interpreter's sign choice during a session. What is the appropriate professional response?

Accepted Answer

Accept the correction graciously and use the preferred sign going forward

Answer

Accepting vocabulary corrections from Deaf consumers respects their linguistic authority and improves communication accuracy — a key professional standard for NIC-certified interpreters.

Question 5

What does 'ASL to English transliteration' differ from 'ASL to English interpretation'?

Accepted Answer

Transliteration converts message to a different form of the same language; interpretation crosses two languages

Answer

Transliteration moves between two forms of the same language (e.g., ASL to Signed English), while interpretation moves between two distinct languages (ASL and spoken English).

(NIC) National Interpreter Certification Practice Test

(NIC) National Interpreter Certification Practice Test

NIC ASL Proficiency 5