Q 01/05

Is signing the same all over the world?

A) Yes, it is one universal system worldwide

B) No, there are many distinct languages

C) There is one per continent, six in all

D) Only two exist, American and British

Answer · why

B) No, there are many distinct languages

Ethnologue lists about 150 and other atlases over 200; deaf Americans and deaf Britons cannot understand each other's signing.

Q 02/05

How many sign languages did the 2021 edition of Ethnologue list?

A) 120

B) 150

C) 90

D) 40

Answer · why

B) 150

The SIGN-HUB Atlas counts more than 200 and notes many are still undocumented.

Q 03/05

Which is the most widely used sign language in the world, as of 2021?

A) Chinese (CSL)

B) Indo-Pakistani (IPSL)

C) Brazilian (Libras) of Brazil

D) American (ASL)

Answer · why

B) Indo-Pakistani (IPSL)

Ethnologue ranks it the 151st most 'spoken' language on Earth even though it has no official recognition in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh.

Q 04/05

Linguists describe signs using five 'parameters'. Which of these is one of them?

A) Tempo marking

B) Handshape

C) Loudness

D) Pitch level

Answer · why

B) Handshape

The others are orientation, location, movement and non-manual expression such as facial cues.

Q 05/05

In signed languages, much of the grammar of a sentence is produced 'non-manually', meaning with what?

A) Written notes

B) The dominant hand only

C) The face and torso

D) The feet

Answer · why

C) The face and torso

ASL and BSL both mark yes/no questions with similar facial expressions.