Impact of Sign Language in History

by Ryan

Hi, my name is Ryan, and I am doing a project for my high school. The project's theme is innovation in history, and I chose sign language. I was wondering if I could get you to tell me what you thought was the lasting legacy or impact sign language has today or throughout history. And if you think there are any other things I should include in my projects, quotes, people, etc. Is it okay if I quote what you say and put it in my project? Also, can I use some pictures from your website? Thank you for reading and considering my questions.

Answer:

Hi Ryan,

Thank you for contacting me! This project sounds interesting and I'm happy to help.

I'll try to answer your questions the best I can :)

I was wondering if I could get you to tell me what you thought was the lasting legacy or impact sign language has today or throughout history.

Based on the research I've done and what I know about Deaf history, I believe sign language has significantly impacted the history of Deaf people by providing them with the two most important parts of their lives: language and culture.

Sign language is the natural language of deaf people. It enables deaf people to communicate seamlessly using their fully capable sense of sight. Throughout history, some well-meaning hearing educators have tried to force speaking, lip reading, and the use of residual hearing on deaf children. They even went so far as to tie the hands of children so they couldn't sign. Most people have no idea how detrimental this is to the growth of a deaf child. I saw a documentary once that followed a couple who decided to have their deaf son learn how to speak instead of sign. I will never forget the utter frustration in that little boy's eyes. Just imagine if you didn't have a true first language--a language where you could communicate fluently and easily. I can't even imagine the frustration of deaf children who do not have sign language. Sign language has impacted Deaf history just by being the natural language of the deaf. Even when children were forbidden from signing, they still did. Sign language has provided this natural mode of communication for deaf people--a first language that allows them to live a normal life without frustration and without the feeling that they have to be "fixed."

Sign language has also impacted deaf people by being the basis of Deaf Culture. Deaf Culture is a true culture just like any other. It has a language, beliefs, rules for behavior, traditions, and everything else every other culture has. However, without sign language, there would be no Deaf Culture. Sign language is the language that ties the culture together. And having a Deaf culture has significantly impacted the lives of deaf people throughout history. With Deaf culture, deaf people have a group they can identify with, a place where they are comfortable and just like everyone else, one where they can have role models, real friends, and join sports teams. Deaf culture is also why the Deaf President Now movement in 1988 happened. Sign language has also impacted how deaf people are referred to. The term "deaf" refers to anyone with a hearing loss while the term "Deaf" refers to those with a hearing loss who use ASL and identify with Deaf culture. That is how much impact it has had on the lives of deaf people.

Sign language has greatly impacted the lives of deaf people throughout history by providing them with a natural language and a culture to identify with. Without sign language, neither of these would exist for deaf people and they would simply be a small part of the hearing world where communication is difficult and they are seen as needing to be "fixed." Sign language has given deaf people life and a sense of community, which has led to historical movements, changes in education, world-wide disagreements, and much more! (You can read about all that on this page on my site: http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/history-of-sign-language.html)

And if you think there are any other things I could include in my history day projects, quotes, people, etc.

One of the most popular quotes I hear in the Deaf community is "Deaf people can do everything except hear." This is why deaf people do not see themselves as handicapped--they can do everything. They can drive, watch television, use the telephone, know when the phone rings, know when a fire alarm goes off--everything. The only thing they can't do is hear, which really has no impact on the ability to live a normal life, while a real handicap would.

You can also include people from my Deaf History page like Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc and how they changed the lives of Deaf people in the United States by creating a standard signed language--American Sign Language.

You can also include people from my Deaf History page like Alexander Graham Bell and Samuel Heinicke and how they impacted the lives of deaf people by taking away ASL in classrooms and supporting the use of oralism.

Basically, these two pages could also be helpful to you:
http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/history-of-sign-language.html
http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/deaf-culture.html

Is it okay if I quote what you say and put it in my project?

Yes! :)

Also, can I use some pictures from your website?

Most of the historical images on my site are in the public domain. The ones with captions I would recommend you use captions for. The other "general" pictures like the girl on my homepage are images I purchased permission to use--I don't know if you can legally use those, but they should be fine for your project. The images that are mine you can also use for your project--just not for commercial purposes (which you probably know). :)

Wow, I think I just wrote you a novel ;-) I hope I answered your questions and helped you at least a little bit.

I wish you luck on your project!

God bless,

Michelle Jay