asl development - 1-15-26

Historical Perspectives on Deaf Education and Sign Language

The Early Philosophical View

  • Aristotle's Viewpoint

    • Aristotle was the first documented individual to claim about deaf people.

    • He believed hearing speech was the sole means for people to learn.

    • He asserted that educating deaf individuals was impossible.

    • This belief persisted for approximately 2000 years as the predominant theory globally.

Early Educators of the Deaf

  • Grolamo Cardano

    • An Italian physician and mathematician.

    • Used an early finger spelling system to teach his deaf son in the 16th century.

    • His system was limited in adoption but represents early efforts to educate the deaf.

  • Pedro Comtes de Leon

    • A Spanish monk who educated deaf sons of Spanish nobles.

    • Taught them reading, writing, and speaking to inherit family fortunes.

    • His work led to successes in deaf education during the 16th century.

Major Contributors to Sign Language Development

  • Juan Pablo de Vinay

    • Inspired by Cardano and Leon, he made significant contributions to sign language.

    • Created a manual of handshapes for different alphabet sounds.

    • His published work is recognized as the first documentation of fingerspelling in history, setting a foundation for sign language’s recognition.

  • Abbe Charles Michel de Lepith (L'Epee)

    • A French Catholic priest committed to deaf education.

    • Founded the first public sign language school in 1760, modifying existing signs to foster education.

    • Revealed that deaf individuals could learn as visually as hearing individuals did auditorily.

    • His approach emphasized communication through hands rather than voices and is often heralded as pivotal in the French sign language revolution.

  • Thomas Braidwood

    • Established the Braidwood Academy for the Deaf in England, concurrent with Lepith’s school.

    • Adopted a unique signing method that became central to British Sign Language development.

Distinction Between American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language

  • Spelling

    • British Sign Language (BSL) typically uses both hands for spelling, whereas ASL utilizes one hand.

  • Signs Comparison

    • Various signs for common words, such as "deaf" and "sign", exhibit distinctive forms in BSL versus ASL, highlighting the lack of universality among sign languages globally.

Debates in Deaf Education Philosophy

  • Samuel Heinicke

    • An educator who founded the first school for the deaf in Germany in 1778, advocating for oralism.

    • Believed educating deaf children should focus on developing spoken language for societal integration.

  • Manualism vs Oralism

    • Abbe L'Epee represented manualism (teaching via sign language), while Heinicke advocated for oralism.

    • L'Epee is often referred to as the Father of Deaf Education for his breakthroughs in sign language teaching and advocacy for the rights of deaf individuals.

The Rise and Influence of American Sign Language (ASL)

  • Migration to America and Martha's Vineyard Sign Language

    • Upon colonization, settlers from Kent County, England, brought hereditary deafness to Martha’s Vineyard.

    • This led to the development of Martha's Vineyard Sign Language, utilized by the entire island community, demonstrating an integrated society of deaf and hearing individuals.

  • Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

    • A Yale graduate who established the first American public school for the deaf on April 15, 1817, in Hartford, Connecticut, alongside Laurent Clerc, a deaf Frenchman.

    • His journey to innovate education involved learning from varied practices in Europe, particularly the French method.

    • Gallaudet's influence led to the amalgamation of different sign languages, laying the groundwork for ASL.

  • Classroom Dynamics

    • Gallaudet and Clerc utilized their differing linguistic backgrounds to advance effective communication and methods, leading to an increased number of estimated 800 deaf children by the 19th century across various institutions.

Cultural and Linguistic Evolution of ASL

  • Generational Language Transmission

    • Much like spoken language, sign language evolves through generational teaching, primarily within residential deaf schools.

  • Statistics on ASL

    • It is estimated that approximately 58% of modern ASL signs are derived from historical French sign language, indicating a significant lineage of linguistic heritage.

  • Racial Dynamics

    • Following 1863, segregated educational practices influenced the emergence of Black ASL, reflecting the separate educational experiences of deaf students of color.

The Role of Evangelical Movements

  • Manualism as a Divine Gift

    • Many manualists perceived sign language as an instrument for communication with God, particularly during the Second Great Awakening.

Preservation and Recognition of Sign Languages

  • William Stokoe's Contributions

    • A linguist and researcher who challenged the perception of sign language as inferior; he demonstrated that ASL has its grammar, syntax, and linguistic structure, qualifying it as a legitimate language.

  • Cultural Preservation Efforts

    • Organizations like the NAD (National Association of the Deaf) began documenting sign language practices and resistance against the decline of manualism in education.

  • Romanticism and Classic Influence

    • Sign language was regarded as an artistic method of expression, paralleling valued art forms, particularly amid early 19th-century ideological currents.