Final answer:
The statement is false; deaf people can acquire skills in both ASL and English. Parents of deaf children make educational choices that may include exposure to deaf culture and bilingualism, which research supports as beneficial.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Deaf people can have limited skills in English or ASL, but not both' is False. Deaf individuals can have varying levels of proficiency in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. ASL is a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, with its own grammar that differs from English. Deaf culture, which includes ASL, schools for the deaf, and various customs, values the use of sign language and acknowledges that deaf individuals can learn and use multiple languages. It’s also important to note that while ASL is used by many in the deaf community, English is often taught to deaf individuals too, and many can read and write in English proficiently. This bilingual approach provides cognitive benefits and does not necessarily hinder the learning of either language.
Parents of deaf children face challenging decisions in regards to education and exposing their children to deaf culture. Those decisions are influenced by whether the parents are deaf and part of the deaf community or hearing. The approach to language learning doesn't have to be mutually exclusive; learning sign language and spoken language simultaneously can be beneficial and is supported by various studies, including those at Johns Hopkins University that show the positives of bilingual education.