Sign Language American Sign Language 4

Question 1

What is 'topicalization' in ASL grammar?

Accepted Answer

Moving a noun phrase to the front of a sentence to establish a topic

Answer

Topicalization places the topic at the start of the sentence, marked by raised eyebrows and a brief pause, before the comment follows.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a 'directional verb' in ASL?

Accepted Answer

GIVE

Answer

GIVE is a directional verb whose movement can be altered to indicate the subject (giver) and object (receiver) without separate pronouns.

Question 3

What does it mean when a signer 'holds' a sign in place longer than usual?

Accepted Answer

It adds emphasis or stress to that sign

Answer

Holding a sign longer than normal is a non-manual marker that adds emphasis or stress, similar to vocal stress in spoken language.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of ASL spatial grammar?

Accepted Answer

To use physical space to represent people, objects, and their relationships

Answer

ASL spatial grammar uses the signing space to establish referents for people and objects and to show their relationships through verb directionality and pronoun pointing.

Question 5

Which famous 19th-century figure is credited with establishing the first permanent school for the deaf in America?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

Answer

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet co-founded the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut in 1817, the first permanent school of its kind in the US.

Sign Language Practice Test

Sign Language Practice Test

Sign Language American Sign Language 4