Who invented sign language?

It was long ago that early man used gestures to express himself. He was the first to use sign language. In 1620 Juan Pablo de Bonet was the one to write a book which had the first alphabet system known to man. He used different signs through hand shapes to represent different sounds of speech. People do believe that Martha’s Vineyard inhabitants have contributed to the invention of sign language. Martha’s Vineyard is off the coast of Massachusetts and this was here that deaf people made use of the sign language because deafness was hereditary and quite common in the 17th century. Though it came after Bonet’s book but still it was the main cause for the development of deaf schools.

In 1771 Abbe Charles Michel de L’Epee found the first school for the deaf in Paris and through the standard sign language created by him, he used to teach them. He got students from all around the country, he picked up signs used by them and created a sign language which eventually became the French sign language and came in wide use.

Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet started the first American school for the deaf in 1817 and were believed to be the inventors for the American Sign Language. Though Laurent was a European and taught French Sign Language but Thomas brought him to America to take his help in the school. The result shows that invention of the American Sign Language was a joint venture of home made signs and French Sign language.

By admin On Dec 7 2010

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9 Responses to “Who invented sign language?”

  1. i love doing sign language it is fun i am 11 and have this boy in my class and i love talking to him

    tori
    At 2:34 pm, March 15, 2011

  2. I have a two year old son who was diagnosed with hydrocephaleus on 2008 He is currently being taught by therapists sighn language.Im trying really hard to learn it also…What a great helpful website!!!!

    REBECCA kEENE
    At 6:26 pm, March 17, 2011

  3. a thumb extended , an indix finger and pinky extended, what does that mean??

    gary karamani
    At 3:41 pm, March 21, 2011

  4. I want to tell you that i would like a book or flash cards to study on my on time and not at work but i can’t afford anything at the moment is there anyway i can go about getting matterial to study my hearing is getting worse and i feel like i need to learn sign language.

    cassandra carter
    At 6:48 pm, July 6, 2011

  5. My sister is deaf and its a wonderful experience to have and you can also build a career in this communication

    april Shepherd
    At 11:43 pm, July 13, 2011

  6. im not deaf but i want to go to college to teach deaf children but im only 11 so that has been my life long dream and this has helped me learn

    joi jones
    At 6:31 pm, October 22, 2011

  7. I Kehinde i appreciate dis pic dat i saw on the net i like it so much

    OGUNSOLA KEHINDE
    At 7:32 pm, November 2, 2011

  8. This website is the best!!!!! I love it….Its awsomeeeeee

    kimbella gomez
    At 10:30 pm, January 31, 2012

  9. Hi i think it was a good idea for whoever made sign language because now kids who have challenges have a way to speak which makes my whole happier because i love seeing kids who have strong feelings being able to speak what they feel.

    Jessica Miller
    At 4:30 pm, March 1, 2012

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