Deaf people have existed throughout history, and this is no secret. For a long time (and perhaps even now), they were marginalized due to many misconceptions about their abilities.
However, sign language is one of the oldest and most basic forms of human communication. We use signs when we greet and point. In the deaf community, sign language is a visual form of language that uses hand gestures and body language to convey meaning.
History
During the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, deaf people were often marginalized and considered incapable of learning or communicating effectively.
The history of sign language is long and complex, and it has developed over several centuries in different cultures and regions of the world.
This evolution includes early attempts to educate deaf people, the creation of formal sign languages, and the struggle for their recognition as complete and valid languages.
For example, it was believed that language could only be learned by hearing spoken words. In many ancient cultures, such as the Greek and Roman, it was thought that deaf people were incapable of learning effectively, relegating them to social exclusion.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle stated, “Men who are deaf are in all cases also mute.” According to Roman law, deaf people were denied the right to sign a will, as “it was assumed they understood nothing.”
The Renaissance: Breaking the Silence
The Renaissance brought with it a transformation in thought, particularly in the realm of education. Belief in the human capacity for individual learning and development sparked interest in teaching deaf people.
Pedro Ponce de León, a Spanish Benedictine monk in the 16th century, was one of the pioneers of deaf education. He introduced the use of gestures and a rudimentary system of signs to teach deaf people, which represented a radical shift in the way society viewed those with hearing impairments. Although his sign language was not the same as today’s, it marked the beginning of its formalization.
Ponce de León adapted and developed a system based on gestures that Benedictine monks already used during vows of silence.
These gestures were originally used to communicate without breaking the vow, but Ponce modified them to teach deaf people to communicate. Among his key adaptations:
** He expanded the monastic gestures to create a more complex system, capable of transmitting detailed ideas.
** He taught deaf individuals to read and pronounce words, which was a significant advancement for the time.
These innovations laid the foundation for more formal systems of sign language and education methods that would emerge in the following centuries.
Juan Pablo Bonet and Ponce de León’s Legacy
The work of Ponce de León had a significant influence on Juan Pablo Bonet, a priest and linguist who, in 1620, published the first known work on deaf education, titled Reduction of Letters and Art to Teach the Mute to Speak.
Bonet expanded Ponce de León’s ideas, designing a more structured method for teaching deaf people to speak and write. He introduced the manual alphabet, where hand gestures represented letters, helping deaf people associate letters with sounds and build words and sentences.
While Ponce de León had begun using gestures to represent letters or sounds, Bonet refined this idea and created a more systematized manual alphabet. This approach became the foundation for manual spelling in modern sign languages.
The Legacy of Charles-Michel de l’Épée
Although the first steps in creating a formal sign language were taken in Spain, it was in France that the first standardized sign language was developed, thanks to the French priest Charles-Michel de l’Épée.
In 1755, l’Épée founded the first public school for deaf children, the National Institute for Deaf-Mutes in Paris. He adapted the signs his students brought from their homes to create a more structured system of signs. This standardized sign language quickly spread across Europe and the United States.
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, an American pastor, traveled to France to learn these methods and, in 1817, founded the first school for the deaf in America, the American School for the Deaf, where American Sign Language (ASL) developed.
The Daily Life of Deaf People
People who use sign language live in a world that is often not designed for them. However, they have developed vibrant and connected communities. Families with deaf members often learn sign language to facilitate communication, creating an inclusive environment at home.
Schools for the deaf not only teach sign language but also foster academic skills and a sense of community among students.
Today, deaf individuals work in various professions, such as interpreters, educators, and activists, advocating for inclusion and equality.
It is important to note that there are approximately 300 different sign languages worldwide. Each country, and even some regions within countries, may have its sign language. These languages have evolved independently, much like spoken languages, and each has its grammar, vocabulary, and structure.
Some examples of sign languages include:
** American Sign Language (ASL) in the United States and parts of Canada. It is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 people use ASL. It is one of the most widely used sign languages in the world and has a rich history and culture distinct from spoken English.
** British Sign Language (BSL) in the United Kingdom. Approximately 125,000 deaf individuals and around 250,000 people in total (including hearing family members and others who use it) communicate in BSL.
** Spanish Sign Language (LSE) in Spain. It is estimated that between 100,000 and 120,000 deaf people use LSE as their primary means of communication in Spain.
** Mexican Sign Language (LSM) in Mexico. Around 100,000 to 150,000 people use LSM in Mexico.
** Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) in Brazil. It is estimated that approximately 3 million people use Libras in Brazil, although not all of them are deaf; many hearing individuals, including interpreters and family members, also use it.
Despite the diversity of sign languages, they are not all mutually intelligible. This means that someone who uses ASL, for example, would not necessarily understand BSL or LSE, as they are distinct languages, though they may sometimes share certain traits or signs.
Problems Faced by Deaf People and How They Address Them
Deaf people face various challenges worldwide, which vary depending on the country and their access to services and resources.
Despite progress, numerous problems still affect the deaf community. However, in different parts of the world, initiatives have emerged to tackle these challenges.
One of the main issues is the lack of access to proper education, especially in developing countries. Schools that teach sign language or provide interpreters are scarce, limiting literacy and academic opportunities.
A clear example of this can be seen in some African countries, like Nigeria and South Sudan, where deaf children often do not attend school due to a lack of resources to educate them in sign language. As a result, many do not acquire basic reading and writing skills.
Additionally, deaf people often face discrimination in the workplace. This includes a lack of employment opportunities, prejudice regarding their ability to perform certain tasks, and the absence of accommodations, such as interpreters for interviews or meetings.
An example of this is India, where, despite laws protecting the labor rights of people with disabilities, many companies do not comply with these regulations.
Furthermore, in many countries, media information is not accessible to deaf people. TV programs, live events, and digital platforms often do not include subtitles or sign language interpretation, excluding deaf individuals from accessing news and entertainment.
To address this issue, the Brazilian government has implemented the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) in news broadcasts, ensuring that deaf individuals can access real-time information.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries were criticized for not including sign language interpreters in press conferences or official announcements. In Australia, this led the deaf community to demand that the government include sign language interpretation in all major broadcasts.
Another significant barrier is the general lack of knowledge about sign language among the hearing population, which creates a significant communication obstacle in the daily lives of deaf people.
In Germany, despite the official recognition of German Sign Language (DGS), many hearing people do not know how to communicate with the deaf. This often leads to frustration in simple situations, such as shopping or interacting with public services.
Various initiatives, projects, and laws aim to improve the situation for the deaf community.
In countries like Denmark, all public schools are required to have sign language interpreters for deaf students.
The Accessible Canada Act (2019) includes measures to ensure that deaf people have equal access to employment, transportation, and public services.
In Finland, campaigns have been launched to teach basic sign language to the general public, promoting a more inclusive society.
Conclusion
The development of sign languages has enabled deaf people to access language in all its forms. Modern sign systems are complete languages, with their own grammatical rules, and are capable of expressing even regional accents, reflecting the richness of local speech.
Nonetheless, it is crucial to continue working to ensure accessibility in media and public services. Promoting education and awareness of sign language among the hearing population is essential for creating a more inclusive environment and breaking down communication barriers.
