Helping Hands: The History of ASL
In the year of 1814, a man journeyed to Hartford, Connecticut to visit his family. He, like any other person, believed this trip was just routine and would be no different from the last time he visited. Little did this man know that this trip would inspire him to establish deaf education in the United States, and it would all begin because of an encounter with one young and extremely bright deaf girl.
While visiting, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet noticed his younger siblings were not playing with one child in particular. Gallaudet approached the child out of curiosity and learned that this young girl, Alice Cogswell, was deaf. He tried to communicate with her by pointing to his hat and writing H-A-T in the dirt next to her. Alice, being an intelligent child, understood him, and Gallaudet was inspired to teach her more. He tried several methods, but Gallaudet and Alice’s father, Mason Cogswell, agreed that a more formal education would produce better results. The only issue was that there were no deaf schools in the United States at the time.
Mason Cogswell was a wealthy man, and he decided to fund Gallaudet’s trip to Europe to learn about their deaf education. He began in England but was met with no luck. They were not willing to share their methods with an American who was only just beginning deaf education, and Gallaudet was also not fond of the oral methods used at their schools. While in England, Gallaudet met another deaf educator from France whose name was Laurent Clerc. He traveled with Clerc to France to learn about deaf education there but soon ran out of money to fund his travels. Gallaudet knew he wasn’t ready to set up a school of his own, so he recruited Clerc to travel back to America with him and teach the deaf students.
Once Gallaudet returned to America in 1817, he and Clerc created the American School for the Deaf. Deaf students from all across America attended the school and brought with them several signs from their hometown. Many who attended the school came from Martha’s vineyard in Massachusetts, an island with a high population of deaf individuals and its own sign language. American Sign Language (ASL) today is comprised of French Sign Language that was taught by Laurent Clerc, sign language from Martha’s Vineyard, and many other diverse signs that students brought with them when first coming to the school. ASL still continues to evolve today as the world shifts and grows.
A common misconception about ASL is that it's a direct translation of English on the hands, but it is a full language with its own grammar, syntax, idiom, and modes of expression. It is important to view ASL for what it truly is: a language rather than a translation. Knowing the history of ASL is proof of this fact.
The origin of ASL is a fascinating part of American history, but it is often only known by the deaf community and those who are learning ASL. By reading this article, you are recognizing an important part of American history and the individuals that advocated for the deaf individuals of our country.
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