Level 1
SEMESTER 1 EXAM
UNIT 1 LANGUAGE NOTES
*American Sign Language got it’s basis from
French Sign Language
 *ASL is a language with it’s own grammar and
syntax.
 *ASL is capable of expressing any abstract idea
 *ASL utilizes space and movement to convey
meaning
 *ASL uses facial expressions, head movements,
and eye gaze to convey grammatical information
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UNIT 1 LANGUAGE NOTES PG 2
*Standardization of ASL began in 1817 when
Laurent Clerc and Thomas Gallaudet established
the first Deaf school in the US.
 *ASL was passed on from generation to
generation mainly by the environment of dorm life
at residential schools for the Deaf.
 *ASL is used by approximately one-half million
Deaf people in the US and Canada.
 *Deaf people regard ASL at their natural language.
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UNIT 1 CULTURAL NOTES
*Gallaudet University is the only Deaf University in
the US, it was established 1864.
 *In 1988 there was a protest at Gallaudet to have
a Deaf president, it lasted 8 days.
 *The first Deaf President at Gallaudet was I. King
Jordan.
 *Deaf people believe that they are not disabled,
they just communicate in a different way.
 *Deaf people prefer to be called “Deaf” as
opposed to “handicapped.”
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UNIT 2 GRAMMAR NOTES
*Non-manual behaviors in sign language are
the grammar of the sentences. They also
convey emotions.
 *A yes/no question requires a simple yes or no
answer. To make a yes/no question you need
to do the following:
 a. raise eyebrows
 b. lean head forward
 c. hold the last sign in the sentence
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UNIT 2 GRAMMAR NOTES PG 2
*A wh- question asks who, what, when, where and
how. To ask a wh- question a signer needs to do
the following:
 a. lower eyebrows
 b. lean head forward
 c. hold the last sign in the sentence (usually a whword sign)
 *When watching a signer it is best to focus on the
signer’s face, avoid looking directly at their hands.
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UNIT 2 CULTURE NOTES
*When signing, you should always use your
dominant hand.
 *One-handed signs are formed with only one
hand. *Always use your dominant hand to sign
these. Examples: where, who, blue
 *Two-handed symmetrical signs require equal
use of both dominant and nondominant hands
in symmetrical movements. Examples: what,
live, machine
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UNIT 2 CULTURE NOTES PG 2
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*In two-handed non-symmetrical signs the
dominant hand moves while the nondominant
hand remains stationary. Examples: coffee,
school, sit
UNIT 3 GRAMMAR NOTES
Spatial Agreement
 *Showing a location relies on movements and
non-manual behaviors that correlate with the
actual environment.
 *Eye Gaze/Location Agreement: Eye gaze should
agree with the route you trace. Visualize the
places along the route and shift your eye gaze to
“look at” the places you describe. You should also
tilt your head to the right as you indicate a location
on the left and tilt your head to the left as you
indicate a location on your right.
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UNIT 3 GRAMMAR NOTES PG 2
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*Conveying Distance: You can indicate relative distance
with specific non-manual behaviors. These nonmanuals are the same whether you’re talking about
where to turn in a hallway or the distance between
cities.
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*To show a location that is far away:
a. tilt head
b. squint eyes
c. open mouth slightly
trace route, extend arm fully
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UNIT 3 GRAMMAR NOTES PG 3
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*To show moderate distance:
a. tilt head
b. purse lips slightly
c. trace route, extend arm moderately
*To show a location that is near:
a. tilt head
b. “cs” behavior (cheek to shoulder), clench teeth, turn
head to the dominant side, with cheek almost touching
shoulder
c. trace route, keep hand close to body
UNIT 4 CULTURE/LANGUAGE NOTES
*Fingerspelling is used, in general, to give:
 Names of people
 Names of cities and states
 Titles of movies or books
 Brand names
 *Fingerspelling is also used for fingerspelled loan
signs. They are 2-5 letter words that are
commonly used. Examples would be: car, bus, OK
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UNIT 4 CULTURE/LANGUAGE NOTES PG 2
*Strategies for Fingerspelling:
 a. When you see a fingerspelled word, try to
see the shape and movement pattern. Read
the whole word, just like you would a printed
word.
 b. Be sure to keep your hand slightly to the
right of your face and below your chin, keep
your elbow down and close to your body.
 c. Avoid bouncing each letter.
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