Master ASL
Unit Two
Test Review
What labels are used to
describe deaf people?





Deaf & Dumb
Deaf Mute
Hearing Impaired
Handicapped
Disabled
Why are those labels
unacceptable?

They focus on inability, they describe
deaf people only in terms of their
hearing loss. They fail to recognize the
cultural identity of most Deaf people.
What labels do Deaf people
prefer?


Deaf
Hard of Hearing
What NMS can express
“You’re Welcome”

A head nod
Define Culture


Culture is the total social behaviors,
values, traditions, beliefs, attitudes,
manners, institutions, products, art,
literature, language, goals, ideals,
and traits shared by a group of people
Deaf culture is the shared experiences of
Deaf people with its own values, social
norms (ways of doing things) a unique
history, and a rich tradition of storytelling and
poetry that is passed from generation to
generation through the use of ASL.
Explain Directionality in ASL

Directionality means that certain ASL
verbs can change. The direction of the
movement conveys the Subject and
the Object in the sentence. For
example: I asked you. You asked me.
I can help you. Can you help me?
Jane gave the book to me. I gave the
book to Jane.
Social Norms are ways of doing things.
Some social norms in the Deaf World are..




Deaf people have long
goodbyes
Deaf people use a
more direct style of
feedback.
Deaf people are more
open to information
sharing when it benefits
other deaf people in
dealing with the
hearing world.
Deaf people use facial
expression a lot more
than hearing people do.




Deaf people hug more
when greeting each
other.
Deaf people think eye
contact is really
important. Lack of eye
contact is rude.
Deaf people use
shoulder taps or hand
wave to get someone’s
attention.
Deaf people will make
comments to you about
your appearance.
Explain the use of flashing
lights by Deaf people


Audio devices such as phones, alarms,
doorbells, etc are wired to lamps in the
homes of Deaf people. When the audio is
activated, the lights flash. Each different
device is programmed to a different flashing
pattern, so the Deaf person knows which
device is signaling based on the pattern of
the flash.
Flashing overhead lights is also used to get
the attention of Deaf people.
What is Sign Variation

Some signs in ASL have more than
one way to produce them. The sign
“THURSDAY” can be made with the
“H” or with “TH”. The sign “TEST” has
a few ways to sign it. Some people
sign BIRTHDAY differently than others.
All languages do have regional
“dialects/variations. ASL is also a
language with some variations.
What should students do when they
encounter signers who use a variation of a
sign?

If you meet a Deaf person or another signer who
uses a “variation” different from the one Mrs..
Mettling taught or used in your ASL class DO
NOT say “I learned it this way” or “My teacher
said it is this way” That is considered
inappropriate. If you don’t recognize the
variation and you don’t know the sign, ask what
the sign means. Repeat the new sign back, say
“I understand” and continue the conversation.
This shows respect for the language and the
signer.
Explain a Pathological view of
Deafness

A pathological view of deafness is a focus on
the condition of lost hearing. The focus is on
the mechanical function of the hearing
system, what is wrong, and often how to fix
or repair the lost hearing. A person with a
pathological view would welcome a “cure” for
deafness, and would see deafness as a
disability, a handicap. They see deafness as
not “normal” and want to make deaf people
“normal” like hearing people.
Explain a Cultural View of
Deafness


A cultural view of deafness recognizes that
this group of people have their own identity
as Deaf, they have their own language,
customs, behaviors, beliefs, values,
traditions and ways of living that can and do
differ from those who hear.
A cultural view is one of respect and
acceptance of these differences without a
belief that deaf people are disabled or
handicapped because of their inability to
hear.
Explain how a Pathological View
conflicts with a Cultural view

A pathological view is not welcomed by
Deaf people. It is a view that fails to
fully respect and appreciate Deaf
people as individuals with a unique
identity. It is a view that conflicts with
the way Deaf people see or view
themselves. They do not see their
deafness as a problem to be fixed,
rather it is part of their identity and
sense of belonging to a unique culture.
What is the purpose of the
Signed Question Mark?

The signed question mark emphasizes
your questions and that you expect an
answer.
Explain when you can use the
signed question mark.




Use the signed question mark to emphasize
your yes/no questions and that a response is
expected.
Use the signed question mark to replace a
closing signal at the end of a Y/N question.
Use the signed question mark to ask a
general question anyone can answer.
Use the signed question mark in informal
situations with people you know well.
Explain when you need to use
other closing signals



Use other closing signals for WH
questions.
Use other closing signals in formal
situations, with adults, teachers,
supervisors etc.
Use other closing signals to ask
specific questions to specific
individuals.
Give sentences that use different
variations the signed question mark.







I have a question for her.
She asked me a question.
I have a question for all of you.
I have several questions for him.
I have several questions for all of you.
Do any of you have any questions for
me?
She asked me lots of questions.
Explain ASL sentence structure
for using WH signs.


Always use the WH sign at the END of
the sentence. English often starts the
sentence with the WH question word,
but in ASL that sign is done at the end
of the sentence.
You can use “WHO” at the beginning,
but if you do you must repeat it at then
end as well.
Explain the backgrounds of deaf people
who do not use ASL, and are not
members of Deaf culture


Many were not born deaf. They grew up
hearing, using spoken language. They lost their
hearing, but did not chose to learn a new
language or acquire a different cultural identity.
They may have been born deaf, or lost their
hearing when very young, but their hearing
families did not expose them to sign.Instead
they developed lipreading and speaking skills.
They are comfortable interacting with those
skills and do not choose to use/learn ASL.
They are not involved in Deaf culture.
What is the leading cause of hearing
loss? Explain the elements that create
this type of loss.





The #1 cause of hearing loss is overexposure to
loud noise.
The decibel level (how loud) + the period of time
(how long) are the 2 elements that will combine to
cause loss.
Decibel levels over 90dB for more than 8 hours will,
over time (years)causes hearing loss.
Decibel levels over 100db for more than 2 hours will
cause hearing loss.
Overexpose to noise will damage high pitch hearing.
What can Deaf people hear?




Some Deaf people hear no sounds in
the environment.
Some can hear some very loud
sounds.
Some can hear some pitches but can’t
hear all pitches well.
Some can hear voice, but might not
understand words clearly.
How does Hearing loss affect one’s
ability to understand speech?




Speech is only one part of the sound
environment. It is normally about 30-40 dB
loud. Words use speech sounds that
combine low, middle and high pitches.
If a person can’t hear all the speech sounds
(pitches) well, then words are unclear,
distorted, or muffled.
Making the words louder doesn’t always help
make them clearer.
A person might understand some words well
if the word uses pitches they can hear.
NMS used when you are
unclear about something or
need further explanation

Use Brows Down (WH face) when you
want to express you are unclear or
need someone to explain something
again.
When to use “UNCLEAR”

Use the sign “UNCLEAR” when you want
to say things like….
1. I’m unclear about something.
2. I don’t really understand that.
3. I don’t quite get what you mean.
4. That doesn’t really make sense to me.
What does “Iconic” mean?
“Iconic” means the sign makes a visual
“picture” of the idea or word that it is clear to
anyone. You would understand these signs
even if you don’t know ASL.
 Examples of iconic signs are baby, eat,
drink, car, don’t do that, sort of, book,
write/pen.
 Most ASL signs are not iconic. These signs
would not be understood just by seeing
them. A few ASL Non-conic signs: Explain,
Fine, Same-old, What’s up, Meaning, Need,
Absent, Can’t, Slow, Again.
