Why was Black ASL formed during historical segregation?

Revise for the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Test. Sharpen your skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Prepare for your success!

Black ASL emerged as a distinctive dialect of American Sign Language, primarily as a result of historical and social factors stemming from segregation. During a time when educational opportunities for Black individuals, including those who were Deaf, were significantly limited and often non-existent in traditional educational settings, many Black Deaf individuals developed their unique signs and communication methods to adapt to their environments.

The lack of access to formal education prompted the creation of home signs and community-specific signs that better suited the cultural and linguistic needs of Black Deaf individuals. This development was also influenced by their need to communicate effectively within their familial and social communities where formal ASL was either not accessible or applicable. Consequently, Black ASL became a vital means of expressing identity and solidarity among Black Deaf communities.

This context makes it clear why the answer related to limited education and the necessity of creating home signs accurately reflects the origins of Black ASL, distinguishing it from the other options, which do not align with the historical circumstances that shaped its development.

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