Fallacies Of Asl Essay

1. Name the 5 common fallacies/misconceptions about ASL that the author de-bunks in Ch. 3?
1. The first fallacy explains what ASL is not, before examining all that is. The first fallacy to clear out of the way is that signed language is pictorial. However, ASL abounds in signs for abstract ideas, such as soul, privilege, fake, and abstract.
2. People assume sign language is pictorial and concrete.
3. People believe it is universal as well.
4. People assume it is primitive.
5. Hearing people assume that ASL is spoken English expressed on hands according to certain conversations.

2. Compare and contrast the process of acquiring a spoken language and ASL from birth.
Each language differs and is acquired in numerous was. ASL language is introduced one sign at a time in isolation in the

This ultimately affected deaf schools because they had to resort to enforcing hearing.

5. Read the “pdf” document titled “Name Signs_Ch.3.” Name and describe the two classes of name signs?
There are two different classes of name signs: arbitrary and descriptive. Arbitrary name signs are made up of common signs, typically made up using the first letter, for names that are used more widely within the Deaf community. Descriptive name signs can be more personalized to the individuals because the sign usually indicates some distinctive physical feature.

6. “Language has fundamentally three roles in bonding a group of speakers [users] to one another and to their culture. It is the symbol of social identity, social interaction, and a store of culture knowledge.” Explain how ASL fulfills these 3 roles in the culture of the Deaf-World.
A symbol of identity- The Deaf-World keeps the language alive and it is theirs.
A medium of social interaction- When they encounter ASL, it provides the basis for identifying with members in the