Who is credited with founding the 7 Basic Handshapes?

• A. Dr. Battison
• B. Dr. Bell
• C. Dr. James
• D. Dr. Smith

Answer: (A)

This item tests recognizing who established the set of seven basic handshapes used to describe ASL signs. The seven basic handshapes provide a convenient framework for analyzing how signs are formed, since handshape is one of the main parameters that define a sign.

Dr. Battison is the figure associated with founding and popularizing this particular seven-handshape framework. This attribution matters because many teaching resources and ASL linguistics discussions present these seven shapes as a foundational tool for students to learn and for researchers to analyze sign formation. Knowing this helps you connect the teaching you’ve seen in textbooks or courses with the historical origin of that framework.

The other names are recognized for important contributions in related areas of ASL research, but the specific attribution to the seven basic handshapes points to Dr. Battison, which is why that option is considered the best answer.