History of sign language
Encyclopedia
The recorded history of sign language in Western societies extends from the 16th century, as a visual language
or method of communication. Sign language is composed of a system of conventional gestures, mimic, hand signs and finger spelling, plus the use of hand positions to represent the letters of the alphabet. Signs usually represent complete ideas, not only individual words.
Most sign languages are natural languages, different in construction from the aural languages used in proximity to them, and are employed mainly by deaf and mute
people in order to communicate.
Sign Languages have existed since deaf people have been around. Universally, where the deaf can be found, a manual form of conveying communication can also be found.
The written history of sign language began in the 17th century in Spain. In 1620, Juan Pablo Bonet
published Reducción de las letras y arte para enseñar a hablar a los mudos (‘Reduction of letters and art for teaching mute people to speak’) in Madrid. It is considered the first modern treaty of phonetics
and speech therapy, setting out a method of oral education for the deaf by means of the use of manual signs, in the form of a manual alphabet to improve communication among and with the deaf.
From the language of signs of Bonet, Charles-Michel de l'Épée
published his alphabet in the 18th century, which has arrived basically unchanged until the present time.
Standardized sign languages have been used in Spain and Italy since the 17th century and in France since the 18th century for the instruction of the deaf. Old French Sign Language
was developed and used in Paris
by the l’Abbé Charles Michel de l’Épée in his school for the deaf. These languages were always modeled after the natural sign languages already in use by the deaf cultures in their area of origin, often with additions to show aspects of the grammar of the local spoken languages.
In 1755, Abbé de l'Épée founded the first public school for deaf children in Paris. His lessons were based upon his observations of deaf people signing with hands in the streets of Paris. Synthesized with French grammar, it evolved into the French Sign Language. Laurent Clerc
, a graduate and former teacher of the French School, went to the United States
with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
to found an American School for the deaf.
The 18th permanent school for the deaf was established in Hartford, Connecticut; others followed. In 1817, Clerc and Gallaudet founded the American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb (now the American School for the Deaf). In 1864, a college for deaf people was founded in Washington D.C. Its enabling act was signed by Abraham Lincoln
and was named “The National Deaf-Mute College” (later "Gallaudet College" (1894), and then renamed "Gallaudet University
") in 1986.
Engravings of Reducción de las letras y arte para enseñar a hablar a los mudos (Bonet, 1620):
Visual language
A visual language is a system of communication using visual elements. Speech as a means of communication cannot strictly be separated from the whole of human communicative activity which includes the visual and the term 'language' in relation to vision is an extension of its use to describe the...
or method of communication. Sign language is composed of a system of conventional gestures, mimic, hand signs and finger spelling, plus the use of hand positions to represent the letters of the alphabet. Signs usually represent complete ideas, not only individual words.
Most sign languages are natural languages, different in construction from the aural languages used in proximity to them, and are employed mainly by deaf and mute
Speech disorder
Speech disorders or speech impediments are a type of communication disorders where 'normal' speech is disrupted. This can mean stuttering, lisps, etc. Someone who is unable to speak due to a speech disorder is considered mute.-Classification:...
people in order to communicate.
Development of Sign Language
The written history of sign language began in the 17th century in Spain. In 1620, Juan Pablo Bonet
Juan Pablo Bonet
Juan Pablo Bonet was a Spanish priest and pioneer of education for the deaf. He published the first book on deaf education in 1620 in Madrid....
published Reducción de las letras y arte para enseñar a hablar a los mudos (‘Reduction of letters and art for teaching mute people to speak’) in Madrid. It is considered the first modern treaty of phonetics
Phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech, or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds or signs : their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory...
and speech therapy, setting out a method of oral education for the deaf by means of the use of manual signs, in the form of a manual alphabet to improve communication among and with the deaf.
From the language of signs of Bonet, Charles-Michel de l'Épée
Charles-Michel de l'Épée
Abbé Charles-Michel de l'Épée was a philanthropic educator of 18th-century France who has become known as the "Father of the Deaf".-Overview:...
published his alphabet in the 18th century, which has arrived basically unchanged until the present time.
Standardized sign languages have been used in Spain and Italy since the 17th century and in France since the 18th century for the instruction of the deaf. Old French Sign Language
Old French Sign Language
Old French Sign Language is a term that loosely describes the language of the deaf community in 18th century Paris at the time of the establishment of the first deaf schools...
was developed and used in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
by the l’Abbé Charles Michel de l’Épée in his school for the deaf. These languages were always modeled after the natural sign languages already in use by the deaf cultures in their area of origin, often with additions to show aspects of the grammar of the local spoken languages.
In 1755, Abbé de l'Épée founded the first public school for deaf children in Paris. His lessons were based upon his observations of deaf people signing with hands in the streets of Paris. Synthesized with French grammar, it evolved into the French Sign Language. Laurent Clerc
Laurent Clerc
Laurent Clerc , born Louis Laurent Marie Clerc, was called "The Apostle of the deaf in America" by generations of American deaf people...
, a graduate and former teacher of the French School, went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, LL.D., was a renowned American pioneer in the education of the Deaf. Along with Laurent Clerc and Mason Cogswell, he co-founded the first institution for the education of the Deaf in North America, and he became its first principal...
to found an American School for the deaf.
The 18th permanent school for the deaf was established in Hartford, Connecticut; others followed. In 1817, Clerc and Gallaudet founded the American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb (now the American School for the Deaf). In 1864, a college for deaf people was founded in Washington D.C. Its enabling act was signed by Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and was named “The National Deaf-Mute College” (later "Gallaudet College" (1894), and then renamed "Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
") in 1986.
External links
- History of sign language in the United States (American School for the Deaf Website).
- History of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (sign language in the UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
). - American Sign Language (ASL) History Lesson
- Pablo Bonet, J. de (1620) Reduction de las letras y Arte para enseñar á ablar los Mudos, Biblioteca Digital Hispánica (BNE).