When Was ASL Invented? A Historical Look at the Founding Father of American Sign Language

Introduction

American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual-gestural language used by members of the deaf community in the United States and Canada. ASL is a unique language that has its own syntax, grammar, and vocabulary. It is not merely a form of English “signed” with one’s hands; rather, it is a distinct language with its own rich history and culture. The question of when ASL was invented remains an intriguing one, and this article will explore the answer to this question.

A Historical Look at the Invention of ASL

In order to understand the invention of ASL, it is important to first look at the beginnings of American Sign Language. There is evidence that sign language has been around for centuries, even before the development of written languages. For example, there were signs used for communication between Native Americans. Additionally, there is evidence of sign language being used in Europe as early as the 16th century.

Tracing the evolution of ASL is slightly more complicated. In the late 1700s, a French educator named Abbé de l’Épée developed a system of signing based on French Sign Language. This system was then brought to the United States by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, who is often referred to as the “Founding Father of ASL”. Gallaudet worked with a deaf woman named Alice Cogswell to develop the first American Sign Language.

The Founding Father of ASL: Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1787. He was the son of a prominent minister and educator, and he grew up with an interest in education. After graduating from Yale University, he decided to pursue a career in teaching. In 1815, he was approached by Mason Cogswell, a doctor whose daughter, Alice, was deaf. Cogswell asked Gallaudet to teach his daughter how to communicate.

Gallaudet soon realized that Alice did not know any spoken language, so he began to teach her sign language instead. To do this, he traveled to Europe and studied with Abbé de l’Épée. When he returned to the United States, he developed a sign language based on what he had learned. This became the basis of modern American Sign Language.

An Overview of ASL’s Development Over Time

Since its invention in the 1800s, ASL has undergone many changes and developments. Early forms of sign language relied heavily on facial expressions and body language, but modern ASL incorporates more hand shapes and movements. Additionally, ASL has borrowed words and phrases from other languages, such as Spanish and French.

In the early 1900s, ASL was officially recognized as a legitimate language in the United States. Since then, there have been several milestones in the growth of ASL. In 1960, William Stokoe published the first academic study of ASL, and in 1965, the National Association of the Deaf was founded. Today, ASL is taught in universities across the country and is an official language of many deaf organizations.

The influence of technology on ASL has also been significant. In recent years, video conferencing and social media platforms have enabled deaf people to communicate with each other more easily than ever before. Additionally, there are now apps that enable deaf individuals to access ASL translations of written text.

Conclusion

To conclude, American Sign Language was invented in the late 1700s by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. It has since undergone many changes and developments, and today it is recognized as a legitimate language in the United States. The invention of ASL has had a profound impact on the deaf community, providing them with a means of communication and connection that was previously unavailable.