Language & Words
Sign Language & Deaf Culture Quiz
ASL, BSL, and the rich culture most hearing people know nothing about.
ASL, BSL, and the rich culture most hearing people know nothing about.
ASL is the third most commonly studied language at American universities — and is NOT based on English but descended from French Sign Language. There are over 300 different sign languages used around the world, each with its own grammar, vocabulary, and cultural traditions. The Deaf community has a rich history of resilience, creativity, and advocacy that most hearing people never learn about in school.
Each question covers a different aspect of sign language or Deaf culture — from how ASL grammar works and the history of Deaf education, to famous Deaf individuals and the technology that has transformed communication. Four possible answers are provided for each question. Some are straightforward, others will challenge even those familiar with the Deaf community. Pick your answer and learn something new with each explanation.
You'll discover why ASL is closer to French Sign Language than British Sign Language, how facial expressions serve as grammar in signed languages, why the 1880 Milan Conference devastated Deaf education for over a century, and how Martha's Vineyard became a place where an entire hearing community learned to sign. You'll also learn about Gallaudet University, the Deaf President Now movement, cochlear implant debates, and the cultural values that define the Deaf community.
No. There are over 300 different sign languages used worldwide, and they are not mutually intelligible. American Sign Language (ASL) is completely different from British Sign Language (BSL), even though both countries speak English. ASL is actually more closely related to French Sign Language (LSF) because Laurent Clerc, a Deaf French educator, co-founded the first permanent school for the deaf in the United States in 1817 and brought LSF with him.
No. ASL is a complete, natural language with its own grammar, syntax, and rules that are entirely different from English. ASL uses a topic-comment sentence structure, spatial grammar, and facial expressions as grammatical markers — none of which come from English. It descended from French Sign Language and evolved independently. Fingerspelling uses English letters but represents only a small portion of ASL communication.
Many in the Deaf community view cochlear implants as an attempt to "fix" something that isn't broken. Deaf culture sees deafness not as a disability but as a difference — a cultural identity with its own language, values, and traditions. Implanting young children before they can choose for themselves is especially controversial, as it implies deafness is a problem to be solved rather than a valid way of being. The debate touches on identity, medical ethics, and cultural preservation.
Last updated: March 2026