Sign Language Deaf Culture and Community 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the capital-D 'Deaf' (as opposed to lowercase 'deaf') signify?
- A person with total hearing loss
- A person who identifies with Deaf culture and community (Correct answer)
- A person who was born deaf
- A person who uses hearing aids
Correct answer: A person who identifies with Deaf culture and community
Capital-D 'Deaf' refers to cultural identity and membership in the Deaf community, while lowercase 'deaf' refers to the audiological condition.
Question 2: What was the Milan Conference of 1880 known for in Deaf history?
- The founding of Gallaudet University
- A resolution banning sign language in schools in favor of oral methods (Correct answer)
- The first international Deaf sports competition
- The creation of American Sign Language
Correct answer: A resolution banning sign language in schools in favor of oral methods
The 1880 Milan Conference passed a resolution declaring oralism superior to sign language, leading to widespread banning of sign language in Deaf education.
Question 3: Who is considered a key figure in bringing sign language to the United States from France?
- Alexander Graham Bell
- Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (Correct answer)
- Edward Miner Gallaudet
- Nyle DiMarco
Correct answer: Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet traveled to France and worked with Laurent Clerc to bring French Sign Language methods to America, helping found the American School for the Deaf.
Question 4: What does the term 'hearing' mean when used by members of the Deaf community?
- A person who can hear perfectly
- Any person who is not part of the Deaf community (Correct answer)
- A compliment about someone's communication skills
- A legal term for an audiological evaluation
Correct answer: Any person who is not part of the Deaf community
Within Deaf culture, 'hearing' is used to describe people who are not culturally Deaf, regardless of their exact level of hearing ability.
Question 5: What is 'audism'?
- A religion practiced by Deaf people
- Discrimination or prejudice against Deaf or hard-of-hearing people (Correct answer)
- The study of the auditory system
- Support for oral communication methods
Correct answer: Discrimination or prejudice against Deaf or hard-of-hearing people
Audism is the discrimination, prejudice, or systemic bias against people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, often rooted in the assumption that hearing is superior.
Question 6: What is Gallaudet University significant for?
- Being the first university to offer sign language classes
- Being the only liberal arts university in the world designed for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students (Correct answer)
- Being the largest school for the Deaf in the US
- Being where ASL was invented
Correct answer: Being the only liberal arts university in the world designed for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students
Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., is the world's only university designed specifically for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students and is a cultural hub of the Deaf community.
Sign Language Deaf Culture and Community 1
What does the capital-D 'Deaf' (as opposed to lowercase 'deaf') signify?