Metalinguistic skills refer to which ability?

• A. The ability to think critically about language and language processing
• B. The ability to memorize vocabulary
• C. The ability to sign quickly
• D. The ability to read lips

Answer: (A)

Metalinguistic skills focus on language as a system and your ability to think about how language works. This means analyzing how signs or words are formed, how different elements like handshape, movement, location, facial expressions, and other features combine to convey meaning, and reflecting on how language is processed and understood. It’s the kind of awareness that lets you critique language use, identify ambiguities, and explain why a particular sign or sentence means what it does. That’s why the best answer describes the ability to think critically about language and language processing, rather than simply memorizing vocabulary, signing quickly, or lip-reading.