American Sign Language information.
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Do you know where American Sign Language (ASL) comes from? I bet you are wondering how and when ASL began. |
ASL history actually began in the nineteenth century in America.
Alice Cosgwell was a deaf girl of a wealthy family. She had no educational background. One day, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet approached Alice and wrote the word "H-A-T" in the dirt with his stick and showed Alice his real hat. The hat and the word made her understand the connection.
Her father, Dr.Cogswell was pleased that Alice had learned something. He met and convinced Gallaudet to go to Europe with the support of Cogswell's funds. He went to Scotland and was rejected because the school refused to share their teaching methods. Gallaudet happened to meet French educators, Abbe Sicard ,Clerc and Massieu in London and fascinated by their brilliant lectures about the teaching methods for the Deaf. Gallaudet journeyed to Paris and visited the Institution.
Gallaudet requested Clerc to accompany him to America. During the 51 day voyage, Gallaudet was taught French Sign Language while he taught Clerc how to read and write English . Upon arrival in America, they went to Hartford, Conn. That was the beginning of Deaf education.
American Sign Language borrowed 60% to 70% from French Sign Language and also from the Navajo. That's how ASL was established.
American Sign language is a real language like Spanish, French, Hindi and other world languages. It is NOT broken English. ASL has its own syntax and grammatical rules. ASL is popularly used in North America.
Non-Manual behaviors are a very important part of the grammatical structure. Facial expressions such as eye brows and body movements enhance the meaning of the signs. It is similar to the voice inflection when you express your emotional feelings. Without non-manual behaviors, the signs mean nothing!