The Birth of ASL: A Story of Language & International Friendship

The Early History of American Sign Language (ASL)

American Sign Language (ASL) originated in the early 19th century and was influenced by French Sign Language (LSF). Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, an American educator, traveled to Europe to study teaching methods for the Deaf. His journey was inspired by a young Deaf girl named Alice Cogswell, the daughter of his neighbor, Dr. Mason Cogswell, a prominent physician in Hartford, Connecticut. The Cogswell family lived among a growing Deaf community, and Dr. Cogswell was determined to provide education for Deaf children, including his daughter. In 1815, Dr. Cogswell, with several businessmen and clergy, asked Gallaudet to travel to Europe to study methods for teaching Deaf students. Recognizing the need for formal instruction, Gallaudet sought the best methods for Deaf education, which led him to France.

Another early influence on ASL was Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts where a high percentage of the population was Deaf. Due to hereditary Deafness, many hearing residents also used a unique sign language known as Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL), which contributed to the development of ASL as it merged with French Sign Language and indigenous sign systems.

Laurent Clerc and French Sign Language

Laurent Clerc was born in France in 1785 and lost his hearing at a young age due to an accident. He attended the Institut National des Jeunes Sourds de Paris, the first school for the Deaf, where he excelled as a student and later became a teacher. Under the guidance of Abbé Charles-Michel de l'Épée and later Roch-Ambroise Auguste Bébian, Clerc became a key figure in Deaf education. French Sign Language (LSF) was the primary mode of instruction at the school, and Clerc played a significant role in refining its teaching methods.

When Gallaudet visited France, he was impressed by the success of Deaf education using sign language and persuaded Clerc to travel to the United States. Clerc agreed, and together they founded the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1817. Clerc’s expertise and knowledge of LSF significantly shaped the development of ASL.

Timeline of ASL Development

• 1785 - Laurent Clerc is born in France.
• 1787 - Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 1805 - Gallaudet graduates from Yale University.
• 1814 - Gallaudet meets Alice Cogswell, inspiring his interest in Deaf education.
• 1815 - Dr. Cogswell, with several businessmen and clergy, asks Gallaudet to travel to Europe to study Deaf education methods.
• 1816 - Gallaudet meets Laurent Clerc in France and persuades him to return to the U.S.
• 1817 - The American School for the Deaf is founded in Hartford, Connecticut.
• 1864 - Gallaudet University is founded by an Act of Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.
• 1880 - The National Association for the Deaf (NAD) is founded to advocate for Deaf rights and preserve ASL.
• 1975 - The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) is passed, later renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ensuring education rights for Deaf students.
• 1990 - The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is passed, guaranteeing accessibility for Deaf individuals.
• 1999 - ASL is officially recognized as an instructional language for Deaf students under IDEA.
• 2004 - 38 U.S. states formally recognize ASL as a foreign language for educational purposes.
• 2021 - ASL remains the third most studied language in U.S. higher education institutions, according to MLA data (Source).

The Role of the National Association for the Deaf (NAD)

The National Association for the Deaf (NAD) has played a significant role in the preservation and advocacy of American Sign Language (ASL). Founded in 1880, NAD has worked tirelessly to protect the rights of Deaf individuals, promote ASL as a legitimate language, and ensure that Deaf people have equal access to education, employment, and public services. Some of its major contributions include:

• Advocating against the oralism movement, ensuring ASL remained a critical part of Deaf education.
• Pushing for ASL to be recognized as a foreign language in educational institutions.
• Advocating for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure accessibility for Deaf individuals.
• Promoting ASL representation in media and entertainment.

Interesting Facts About ASL

• ASL is a complete language with its own grammar and syntax, different from English.
• It is the primary language of many Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the United States and Canada.
• ASL is recognized as an official foreign language in many schools and universities.
• Facial expressions and body language play a crucial role in conveying meaning in ASL.
• There are different sign languages used around the world; ASL is distinct from British Sign Language (BSL) and Australian Sign Language (Auslan).