Sign Language Trivia 2 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the name of the first deaf university in the world, founded in 1864?
- Gallaudet University (Correct answer)
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Clarke School for the Deaf
- American School for the Deaf
Correct answer: Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. was chartered by Congress in 1864 and remains the world's only university designed primarily for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
Question 2: Which famous French educator is credited with bringing sign language instruction to America in the early 1800s?
- Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
- Laurent Clerc (Correct answer)
- Charles-Michel de l'ÃpÊe
- Edward Miner Gallaudet
Correct answer: Laurent Clerc
Laurent Clerc, a deaf teacher from France, traveled to America with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and co-founded the American School for the Deaf in 1817.
Question 3: What does the term 'initialized sign' mean in ASL?
- A sign performed at the start of a conversation
- A sign that uses the handshape of the first letter of the English word (Correct answer)
- A sign that requires two hands to form
- A sign borrowed from a foreign sign language
Correct answer: A sign that uses the handshape of the first letter of the English word
An initialized sign incorporates the handshape of the first letter of the corresponding English word, such as the sign for 'family' using the F handshape.
Question 4: What is 'Sim-Com' in the context of sign language?
- A method of teaching sign language online
- Simultaneously speaking and signing at the same time (Correct answer)
- A simplified version of ASL for beginners
- A sign language used in simulations and training
Correct answer: Simultaneously speaking and signing at the same time
Sim-Com (Simultaneous Communication) refers to the practice of speaking and signing at the same time, though it is controversial because it can compromise the grammar of both languages.
Question 5: What is the primary difference between ASL and Signed Exact English (SEE)?
- ASL uses more facial expressions than SEE
- SEE follows English grammar word-for-word, while ASL has its own grammar (Correct answer)
- ASL is only used in America while SEE is international
- SEE is faster to produce than ASL
Correct answer: SEE follows English grammar word-for-word, while ASL has its own grammar
SEE is a manually coded system designed to represent English grammar exactly, while ASL is a complete, natural language with its own distinct grammar and syntax.
Question 6: Which part of the hand is referred to as the 'dominant hand' in ASL?
- The hand used to fingerspell numbers only
- The hand that typically initiates movement in a two-handed sign (Correct answer)
- The hand held stationary as a base in two-handed signs
- The hand closest to the signer's body
Correct answer: The hand that typically initiates movement in a two-handed sign
The dominant hand is the signer's preferred hand (right or left) that typically moves or initiates signs, while the non-dominant hand often serves as a base.
Question 7: What historical event in 1988 at Gallaudet University led to major changes in deaf leadership?
- The founding of the National Association of the Deaf
- The Deaf President Now protest movement (Correct answer)
- The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- The first International Congress on the Education of the Deaf
Correct answer: The Deaf President Now protest movement
The Deaf President Now movement in 1988 resulted in the appointment of I. King Jordan as Gallaudet's first deaf president after students protested the selection of a hearing candidate.
Sign Language Trivia 2
What is the name of the first deaf university in the world, founded in 1864?