History of Sign Language

Deaf History

The events that occurred in the history of sign language are actually pretty shocking.

How deaf people experience life today is directly related to how they were treated in the past. It wasn't long ago when the deaf were harshly oppressed and denied even their fundamental rights.

The are many famous deaf people who have made a name for the deaf throughout the history of sign language and proved that deaf people can, in fact, make history.

Who is Your Favorite Person from the history of sign language?
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Aristotle was the first to have a claim recorded about the deaf. His theory was that people can only learn through hearing spoken language. Deaf people were therefore seen as being unable to learn or be educated at all.

Therefore, they were denied even their fundamental rights. In some places, they weren't permitted to buy property or marry. Some were even forced to have guardians. The law had them labeled as "non-persons".

Aristotle's claim was disputed in Europe during the Renaissance. Scholars were attempting to educate deaf persons for the first time and prove the 2,000 year old beliefs wrong. This mark in the history of sign language is what started the creation of a signed language.

Starting to Educate the Deaf

Geronimo Cardano, an Italian mathematician and physician, was probably the first scholar to identify that learning does not require hearing. He discovered, in the 1500s, that the deaf were able to be educated by using written words. He used his methods to educate his deaf son.

Pedro Ponce de Leon, a Spanish monk, was very successful with his teaching methods while teaching deaf children in Spain. This was around the same time that Cardano was educating his deaf son.

Juan Pablo de Bonet

Juan Pablo de Bonet

Juan Pablo de Bonet, a Spanish priest, studied Leon's successful methods and was inspired to teach deaf people using his own methods. Bonet used the methods of writing, reading, and speechreading as well as his manual alphabet to educate the deaf. His manual alphabet system was the first recognized in Deaf history. The handshapes in this alphabet corresponded to different sounds of speech.

Organized deaf education was non-existent until around 1750. This was when the first social and religious association for deaf people was founded by Abbe de L'Epee, a French Catholic priest, in Paris. Abbe Charles Michel de L'Epee is one of the most important people in the history of sign language.

A common story retold throughout the history of sign language claims that L'Epee encountered two deaf sisters by chance when visiting a poverty stricken area of Paris. Their mother wanted him to educate her daughters in religion. After discovering their deafness, he wanted to educate the sisters. Soon after, he completely dedicated his life to educating the deaf.

Abbe Charles Michel de L'Epee established the first public free deaf school in 1771. In English, the school is known as the National Institute for Deaf-Mutes. Deaf children came from all across France to attend the school. The deaf children had signed at home then brought these signs with them to the school. L'Epee learned all of these different signs and utilized the signs he learned to teach his students French.

These signs soon became a standard signed language L'Epee taught to the students. More schools were founded and the students brought this language back to their neighborhoods. The standard language L'Epee used in the history of sign language is known as Old French Sign Language. This language spread across Europe as more students were educated.

Today, Abbe de L'Epee is known in Deaf history as the "Father of the Deaf" because of the twenty-one schools he established and all he has done for the deaf.

Laura Bridgman

Many people say that Abbe de L'Epee invented sign language--which is not true. If you want to know who invented sign language, read my "Who Invented Sign Language" article.

Although Abbe de L'Epee claimed sign language is the native language for the deaf, Samuel Heinicke believed in Oralism. Oralism was brought about as people used speechreading and speech to teach deaf students instead of manual language.

Even though this positive advancement in Deaf history took place, oralism was the bump in the road.

Helen Keller

In relation to the deaf-blind, the first deaf-blind person to be educated was Laura Bridgman. She was born 50 years before Helen Keller, but is usually not credited with being the first deaf-blind person to learn language.

Helen Keller is the most well-known deaf-blind person (she has taken the credit before Laura Bridgman). While she wasn't the first deaf-blind person to be educated, Helen was the first one to graduate from college, and she did it with honors.

Another common topic in the Deaf Community is deaf people and sports. My favorite deaf athlete is William "Dummy" Hoy. Dummy Hoy was the first deaf major league baseball player. He hit the first grand-slam home run in the American league, and created the hand signals that are still used in baseball today.

I think it is so amazing that one deaf athlete can have so much impact and break so many records in baseball, yet many people don't know about him. Truly amazing.

American Sign Language

The history of American Sign Language has earned its own page. Please don't forget to read about this important part of the history of sign language in the United States.

Speech versus Sign

Sign language is now seen as the native communication and education method for deaf people. However, it wasn't always this way.

Even though sign language became commonly used, supporters of the oralism method believed the deaf must learn spoken language to fully function in hearing society.

Two of the largest deaf schools in America began educating the deaf in 1867 using only oral methods and encouraged all deaf schools to do the same. These methods did not use any sign language and began to spread to schools for the deaf across the U.S.

Probably the most devoted supporter of the oralism method was Alexander Graham Bell (yes, the man who invented the telephone). Bell started an institution in Boston in 1872 to train teachers of deaf people to use oral education. He was one person in the history of sign language who really tried to damage the lives of deaf people.

In 1890, he founded an organization that is now known as the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf.

Alexander Graham Bell

The dispute of sign language versus spoken language continued for the next century. The International Congress on the Education of the Deaf met in Milan, Italy in 1880 to discuss the issue. This meeting is now known as the Milan Conference.

The supporters of the oralism method won the vote. Congress declared "that the oral method should be preferred to that of signs in the education and instruction of deaf-mutes".

The outcome of the conference were devastating. Over the next ten years, sign language use in educating the deaf drastically declined. This milestone in the history of sign language almost brought the Deaf back to ground zero after all of their progress. Almost all deaf education programs used the oralism method by 1920.

Even though oralism won the battle, they did not win the war. American Sign Language still was primarily used out of the classroom environment. The National Association of the Deaf was founded in the United States and fought for the use of sign language. They gained a lot of support and maintained the use of sign language as they argued that oralism isn't the right educational choice for all deaf people.

In 1960, something big happened. William Stokoe, a scholar and hearing professor at Gallaudet University, published a dissertation that proved ASL is a genuine language with a unique syntax and grammar.

ASL was henceforth recognized as a national language.

In 1964, the Babbidge Report was issued by Congress on the oral education of the deaf. It stated that oralism is a "dismal failure" which finally discharged the decision made at the Milan Conference.

In 1970, a teaching method was born that did not fully support either sign language or oralism. Instead, the movement attempted to bring together several educational methods to form Total Communication. This method became a new philosophy for deaf education.

Heather Whitestone
heatherwhitestone.com

Allowing the deaf access to information by any means, Total Communication can include fingerspelling, sign language, speech, pantomime, lipreading, pictures, computers, writing, gestures, reading, facial expressions, and hearing aids.

Another huge event in the history of sign language was the Deaf President Now (DPN) movement. The DPN movement unified deaf people of every age and background in a collective fight to be heard. Their triumph was a testament to the fact that they don't have to accept society's limitation on their culture.

In 1995, a woman named Heather Whitestone became the first deaf woman to be named Miss America in the Miss America pageant. She showed the world that a deaf person can do anything a hearing person can do, and that all things are possible with God's help.

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Deaf Culture

Deaf history greatly affects how deaf people live their lives today. And not only do deaf people have a history, they have a culture...

Deaf Culture. Deaf culture is culture like any other. Deaf people share a language, rules for behavior, values, and traditions. The way the Deaf culture is living today is a direct result of the Deaf history that preceded it.

Who is Your Favorite Person from Deaf History?
Share Your Thoughts!

There are so many people who played a significant role in the history of sign language. So, naturally, everyone is bound to have a favorite!

Who is YOUR favorite historical figure? Is it Abbe de L'Epee? Thomas H. Gallaudet? Alexander Graham Bell? Share your thoughts!

And don't forget to tell us why this person is your favorite as well--make it a good well thought-out answer! And please make sure your submission is more than 200 words or I won't be able to post it! It will be fun to see why everyone chose who they did! :)

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What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see the favorite historical figures from other visitors to this page...

Alexander Graham Bell a Villain?
This article was very interesting to read. I would have to say my favorite person is Abbe de L'Epee. In reading his story I can see that he truly was ...

My admiration
It was not until I read this history lesson that I realized how difficult is must have been growing up deaf. I have been hearing all my life, but I fell ...

Linda Bove
The person from Deaf History that I admire the most is Linda Bove. She frequently came into my living room via "Sesame Street". She was kind and friendly ...

I Am At A Loss...
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After having carefully read and reread Step Three in The ASL Student's Essential Guide To Learning American Sign Language And Getting Involved In The Deaf ...

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Growing up I was a victim of oralism or audism. The doctors and specialists told my mother not to put me in deaf school or for ASL to be taught, rather ...

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I do not believe Helen Keller is the most important person in Deaf History, but I do believe she inspired me the most. I have learned quite a bit about ...

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Marlee Matlin
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Touched By A Touch
Hands that speak all I needed to hear.

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Helen Keller
The reason I choose Helen Keller is because she not only being blind but also deaf demonstrated that impaired people can also lead a very good life.

She ...

Anne Sullivan
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Marlee Matlin -A Super Star born
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William Stokoe
I have to say that many of them deserve a recognition, but I will say that William Stokoe took it to the next level, fighting for the rights of the Deaf ...

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Deaf History and Culture is something that not many people take the time to think about. However, very important lessons can be learned from these past ...

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My favorite was Frederick Schreiber, former President of the NAD. He was a simple man with a simple ego and his humble leadership resulted in many Deaf ...

Heather WhiteStone
Heather Whitestone is my favorite person from deaf history simply because she really did prove, just like Beethoven, that a deaf person can in fact pull ...

Geronimo Cardano
As a parent of two hearing children, I am amazed at what I learn from them. I chose Geronimo Cardano as my favorite. As a busy physician having seen ...

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Absolutely Not worthy!
As a hearing person just discovering the wonder and beauty of ASL and the incredible community of people that use it, I am blown away that this part of ...

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The Deaf Children
In my inept attempt to answer this question, I find myself so ignorant of Deaf history and culture and am amazed how little is taught in our schools. That ...

William Stokoe finally gets the world to hear
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The First US Deaf Educator
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Difficult to say
To be honest, I can't really choose a favourite person from Deaf history since I am just now learning and getting involved with ASL. I can only say that ...

Marlee Matlin
My favorite deaf person, by far, is Marlee Matlin -- the youngest woman to ever win an Academy Award for Best Leading Actress (she won at age 21!)

Her ...

Stokoe's Signs
Undeniably, William Stokoe had a major impact on Sign Language as we know it today. Mr. Stokoe was instrumental in bringing about legislation within the ...

Abbe de L'Epee
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My Daughter is Amazing!
I would have to say that my favorite person is my daughter. I was her teacher for the past twelve years and I must say that she was a very good student....

Rebel!
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Lou Fant
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William Ellsworth Hoy
William Ellsworth Hoy ("Dummy" Hoy)

No Limits
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My Favorite Deaf History Figure is Granville Redmond!
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The deaf children in France
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Juliette Gordon Low, a Hero to All People
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My Favorite Person from Deaf History is Laurent Clerc
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Discovering the Beauty of Sign Language Not rated yet
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Geronimo Cardano is my favorite, Aristotle is a jerk Not rated yet
My favorite person from deaf history would probably be Geronimo Cardano because he was the first person to recognize that just because a person was deaf ...

Alexander Graham Bell Not rated yet
He is not my favorite. He is the one most interesting to me.

He is interesting because he had a deaf parent, married a deaf individual, and had deaf ...

My Least Favorite Not rated yet
I have to say the Alexander Graham Bell is my least favorite historical figure in the Deaf community. I saw details of his work in the documentary film,...

William Ellsworth Hoy (Dummy Hoy) Not rated yet
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Geronimo Cardano Wow! Not rated yet
I have to say that Geronimo Cardano is my favorite person from Deaf History at this point. The reason I chose him is because from Aristotle, one of the ...

William Stokoe Not rated yet
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Belinda Not rated yet
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Whoever started the Total Communication Movement Not rated yet
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Marlee Matlin Not rated yet
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Dr. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Alice Cogswell Not rated yet
I chose Dr. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Alice Cogswell as my favorite people from Deaf history.

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Helen Keller Not rated yet
Helen Keller is my favorite person from Deaf history.

Helen Keller Not rated yet
Helen Keller has to be my favorite Deaf person. She accomplished so much for being Deaf... and blind! I'm learning sign right now and I think that it's ...

Helen Keller Not rated yet
My favorite deaf person has definitely got to be Helen Keller. She was not only deaf, she was also blind, too, and was amazingly able to learn how to read ...

Helen Keller Not rated yet
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Oh the ringing irony Not rated yet
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Mr. Bell'...

My inspiration: Helen Keller Not rated yet
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There was a young lady in my church, when I was younger,...

Abbe de L'Epee Not rated yet
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Seinfeld: Humor Nonetheless Not rated yet
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Helen Keller Not rated yet
There are many great people in deaf history, ones that earned rights, encouraged signed language, started organizations, but what would that all mean if ...

Athletics and Deafness Not rated yet
I'd have to say that my favorite person that I have been introduced to has to be William Hoy, the baseball player.

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Dr. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet Not rated yet
Here is a man that went to great lengths to educate a child that was not even his own. A child that most people would not have taken the time to bother ...

Helen Keller Not rated yet
I truly respect Helen Keller. She was a woman who went after what she wanted, she did not let her handicap slow her down or stop her. By Helen going out ...

My heart belongs to Abbe de L'EPee Not rated yet
After reading the article, I fell in love with what Abbe de L'Epee had done for the world of the deaf people. Creating the first free school for the deaf ...

Abbe Charles Michel de L' Epee and Heather Whitestone Not rated yet
I actually have two favorites. One being Abbe Charles de L'Epee because of his determination and compassion to open twenty-one free public schools for ...

Helen Keller Not rated yet
I remember watching The Miracle Worker with my mother when I was a child and it is still one of my favorite movies to this day. Helen Keller changed a ...

My Choice... Not rated yet
I have always been interested in sign language and was excited to find out more about how to sign, as well as, the history of its development. I was amazed ...

The Pioneer Not rated yet
I picked Geronimo Cardano because without him it would not even be possible for anyone else to improve on or even establish ASL. He was the one who decided ...

William Hoy Not rated yet
It was so neat to read about William Hoy. I hadn't known about him until reading this account of deaf history, which is really well written by the way....

Laura Bridgman - An Inspiration Not rated yet
Many people know of the life and achievements of a woman named Helen Keller who defied the odds that were stacked against her. She accomplished what the ...

Anne Sullivan Not rated yet
"The Miracle Worker" has always been one of my favorite movies. Even when Melissa Gilbert did the remake of it with Patty Duke switching from Helen's ...

I don't know! Not rated yet
All of the individuals in this article are all important. Without them, sign language, and potentially the deaf society wouldn't be the way that it is ...

Priestly Devotion Not rated yet
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The amazing history of the deaf Not rated yet
The deaf history of the world is very interesting on its own. I enjoyed reading about both French and American deaf history. I disagree strongly with oralism....

William Stokoe Not rated yet
One of my favorite people in Deaf history is William Stokoe because when I read about him I felt a sense of relief and triumph that someone in recent history ...

Geronimo Cardano Not rated yet
Geronimo Cardano was my fave because he was the first to realize that deaf people are just as smart as hearing they just cant hear. I think he should have ...

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