Language and Identity
Advanced English
Fall 1999
Tokyo International University of America

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Reading Guide for Two Articles on American Sign Language

Please do your own work! Don't copy another student's answers -- it's a waste of your brain and your time. However, do ask each other or me for help if you need it.

Find the answers to these questions:

from: An Introduction to Language (1/3 of the way down from the top of page 384 through page 388)

1. (page 384) What is the name of the major language used by the deaf in the United States?

 

2. (page 384) ASL is a "real" language: It has complexity equal to other languages in the world, it has to be learned in childhood to be used without a non-native "accent", and it takes ten or fifteen years to learn fluently if diligently studied as an adult. ASL does not resemble English; it's a different language. (a) However, 60% of the vocabulary is from the sign language used in what country? (b) Why is this true?

 

 

 

 

3. (page 388 -- last paragraph) There are, by many estimations, 5000 or 6000 languages in the world. (a) Is there only one sign language or are there many? (b) Why?

 

 

from: The Study of Language, Chapter 17 (pages 158 through the top of page 165)

1. (page 158) In order of frequency of use, what are the four most-commonly-used languages in the United States?

1st - English

2nd -

3rd -

4th -

2. (page 159-160) (a) Is "Signed English" the same as "American Sign Language"? (b) Please explain.

 

 

 

3. (page 160) (a) Can people who are proficient at using American Sign Languages understand people who use sign language in Britain/England? (b) Why or why not?

 

 

 

4. (page 165) (a) What is the answer to the old joke: "What is the greatest problem facing deaf people?". (b) Explain.

 

 

Discussion question/be prepared to discuss this: It is commonly accepted now that there exist "Deaf cultures" in many countries, cultures that are as different from the surrounding mainstream cultures as, for example, Japanese culture is from "American" culture. Why do you think this is? Why isn't there a "blind" culture? (Write your notes below.)

 

 

 

 

What questions and comments do you have:

1.

 

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3.