American Sign Language: a

History

Mrs. DavisASL 1

In The Beginning

Signs created by family members of deaf

“Home Signs” Education was only

for wealthy families Abbe Charles

Michel de L'Epee- founder of first free public school for deaf.

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

Minister from Hartford, Connecticut

Meets Alice Cogswell Gallaudet travels to

Europe British use oral

method French use Sign

Language to educate Meets Laurent Clerc

Laurent Clerc

Deaf Educator in France

Comes to America with Gallaudet

Educates using French Sign Language

American School for the Deaf

Established in Hartford, Connecticut in 1817

First public free school for deaf in America

Find a partner (up to group of 3) How would you convey these concepts into a

sign or gesture? Mother Water Home Red Work

What would you do?

The Sign Language Melting Pot

French Sign Language

Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language

Native American Sign Language

Gallaudet University

Established in Washington D.C. 1864

First college for Deaf in the world

All classes are taught in ASL

William Stokoe

Helped ASL get recognized as a legitimate and living language

 Published Sign Language Structure (1960)

 Co-authored A Dictionary of American Sign Language on Linguistic Principles (1965) First time the name

American Sign Language was used

ASL is a “living” language, which means it is

still growing and evolving today. Technology impacts:

Evolution of the sign “telephone” Video Phones are bridging culture, people, and

signs.

Technology and ASL

http://www.gallaudet.edu/ http://

www.start-american-sign-language.com/history-of-sign-language.html

Additional Resources