The statement about the oralism movement: 'During the oralism movement, both Black sign language and traditional ASL fell out of favor in their respective communities.'

The statement about the oralism movement: 'During the oralism movement, both Black sign language and traditional ASL fell out of favor in their respective communities.'

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not enough information
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (B)

The statement mixes up how the oralism movement affected language use. What the movement did was push for teaching Deaf students to speak and to lip-read, and it discouraged or restricted the use of sign language in educational settings. That policy changed education, not the everyday value of signing in Deaf communities. Traditional ASL continued to be used by many people in the Deaf community, and Black Sign Language (the signing used in Black Deaf communities) persisted as well, even under segregated schooling. So the idea that both Black Sign Language and traditional ASL fell out of favor in their communities is too absolute; sign languages remained central to communication in these communities despite educational policies.

The statement mixes up how the oralism movement affected language use. What the movement did was push for teaching Deaf students to speak and to lip-read, and it discouraged or restricted the use of sign language in educational settings. That policy changed education, not the everyday value of signing in Deaf communities. Traditional ASL continued to be used by many people in the Deaf community, and Black Sign Language (the signing used in Black Deaf communities) persisted as well, even under segregated schooling. So the idea that both Black Sign Language and traditional ASL fell out of favor in their communities is too absolute; sign languages remained central to communication in these communities despite educational policies.