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ASL--American Sign Language--is a natural language used by Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing people

in the USA and Canada.

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The Origins of American Sign Language (ASL)

American Sign Language (ASL) emerged as a formal communication system in the early nineteenth century. Throughout human history, various hand gestures and signing methods have been utilized by different communities for communication, but ASL specifically developed its structured form during the 1800s in the United States. The official establishment of ASL coincided with the creation of educational institutions dedicated to teaching deaf individuals in the United States. These pioneering programs provided the foundational environment where ASL could evolve from earlier signing systems into the comprehensive language we recognize today.

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Recognition as a Real Language

Even though deaf communities widely used American Sign Language (ASL), it wasn't recognized as a real language until the 1960s. This changed when researcher William Stokoe proved that ASL possessed all the features of a complete language, including its grammar and rules.

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However, in 2017, ASL was officially recognized as a language in the United States with the passage of the "Bill of Rights for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children" legislation across multiple states, ensuring deaf individuals' right to use ASL in educational and public settings.

 

This marked an important milestone in validating ASL's linguistic status at the governmental level. Studies have shown that American Sign Language is the third most used language in the United States, after English and Spanish, with approximately 500,000 to 2 million users. This widespread usage underscores its significance not only within the deaf community but also in American society as a whole.

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Native Sign Languages and Early Communication Systems

Before official sign languages existed, native communities worldwide created their sign systems. Native American tribes used sign language to communicate with other tribes who spoke different languages. This was especially useful in the Plains region, where many tribes needed to trade and work together despite speaking different languages.

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While regional sign systems had existed for centuries, the first formalized sign language with standardized grammar and vocabulary was developed in France in the 18th century. Abbé Charles-Michel de l'Épée, often called “Father of the Deaf”, established the first public school for deaf students in Paris in 1755, where he developed "methodical signs" that combined natural signs used by deaf Parisians with a systematic grammar. This became French Sign Language (FSL), which is considered the first officially recognized sign language in the world.

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In places where many deaf people lived together, local sign languages naturally developed. For example, on Martha's Vineyard island from the early 1700s until 1952, a special sign language formed because many families there had hereditary deafness. What made this community special was that both deaf and hearing people used sign language, creating one of history's most inclusive communities for deaf people.

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French Influences and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

The development of ASL began with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a Yale graduate who became interested in deaf education after meeting Alice Cogswell, a deaf girl in his neighborhood. Motivated to help, Gallaudet traveled to Europe in 1815 to study teaching methods for deaf students.

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When British schools rejected him because they focused on teaching speech instead of signing, Gallaudet went to France. There, he met Laurent Clerc, a deaf teacher from a French school that used French Sign Language (FSL) in its instruction.

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Gallaudet persuaded Clerc to come to America to help establish the first American school for deaf students. Clerc's knowledge of French Sign Language became a crucial part of what would later develop into ASL.

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The First School for the Deaf and the Expansion

On April 15, 1817, Gallaudet and Clerc opened the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. This marked the beginning of formal deaf education in America and laid the groundwork for the growth of ASL. The school quickly became a model for other institutions across the nation. The Kentucky School for the Deaf, established in 1823, holds the distinction of being the first state-supported school for deaf students in the United States, setting an important precedent for public funding of specialized education for deaf individuals.

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Throughout the 19th century, deaf education continued to expand, with growth accelerating throughout the century. By the 1850s, approximately 20 schools had been established, and by 1900, more than 50 were in operation. The number remained steady heading into the 1920s, as the focus shifted to developing day schools and integrating deaf education into local public school systems.

 

These institutions formed a network that not only provided education but also served as cultural centers where ASL could flourish and evolve. The rapid growth of these schools created communities where deaf students could communicate freely, develop their language skills, and form connections that would last throughout their lives.

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The Creation of Gallaudet University

The growth of deaf education led to the establishment of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., in 1864. President Abraham Lincoln signed it into law. This school became the world's first university specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and remains a center for ASL and Deaf culture today.

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Impact and Legacy

Deaf schools and ASL created more than just learning opportunities—they helped build Deaf culture in America. These schools became community centers where deaf people could connect, share experiences, and develop a sense of identity.

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Today, ASL is recognized as a complete language with its grammar, used by hundreds of thousands of people in the United States and Canada, as well as other countries (you can check the map here). It demonstrates how deaf communities have overcome challenges to develop their form of communication.

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To learn more about the history of ASL, feel free to explore these resources below:

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To learn ASL, you can learn through classes at a community college or a university, or learn on various online websites, like LifePrint or Start ASL. You can even download an app from the App Store or Google Play. Please find the links provided below to get you started learning ASL. 

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Online websites: 

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Apps: 

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ASL Books:

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Disclaimer:

While learning ASL through the websites above, please remember that the sign language you learn may be taught locally, regionally, or nationally. There is no right or wrong. But if you are learning from other online videos or websites that are not listed above, we cannot verify the accuracy of the signs you learn from. â€‹â€‹â€‹

 
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