HISTORY

DEAF HISTORY Little is known about the history of sign

language before 1816. It is likely that there were several different

signed languages or types of signing used by the deaf and their family members.

Most deaf people were isolated due to lack of understanding of them and little to no schools to attend.

Without schools or organizations for the deaf to be brought together, a deaf child and their family may create a personal way to communicate-known as home signs.

(Also, sign languages from other countries may account for some signs brought by immigrants)

1816-HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT

A rich doctor (Dr. Cogswell) had a deaf

daughter named Alice.

The doctor wanted to find someone to

educate his daughter.

Dr. Cogswell found his neighbor Thomas

Hopkins Gallaudet and raised money to

send THG to Europe to learn how to

educate the Deaf.

THOMAS HOPKINS GALLAUDET THG was a graduate from Yale University, after

the money was raised by Cogswell, THG first

went to England.

The Oral method was becoming popular. Thus

he ended up at the Braidwood School (an oral

school) but was turned away.

However, while in England, THG met Sicard

who was putting on an exhibition of his deaf

students.

Sicard then invited THG to study in France and to study French Sign Language.

While in France, THG met Laurent Clerc (one of Sicard’s students) and the two of them traveled back to the U.S.

THG taught Clerc English and Clerc taught THG French Sign Language during their 52 day trip to the U.S.

TAAADAAAHH! In April 1817, Gallaudet and Clerc

established a school for the deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

Original name was the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb Persons (It was later changed to the American School for the Deaf)

The combination of signs that existed in America already (home signs/ minimal communication) and French signs that Clerc brought over created….

AMERICAN SIGN

LANGUAGE

Taadaaah…