American Sign Language derives from what form of sign language?

Question

Here is the question : AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE DERIVES FROM WHAT FORM OF SIGN LANGUAGE?

Option

Here is the option for the question :

  • Old French Sign Language
  • British Sign Language
  • Yucatec Maya Sign Language
  • Swedish Sign Language

The Answer:

And, the answer for the the question is :

Old French Sign Language

Explanation:

American Sign Language (ASL), the country’s fourth most common language, is not called “English” sign language on purpose because it is not an English language. The deaf population of Paris, France, formalized Old French Sign Language, the ancestor of American Sign Language, in the 18th century. A school for the deaf was founded in the United States by French educators Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc, who brought American Sign Language with them.

American Sign Language derives from what form of sign language?
American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual language that is used primarily by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the United States and Canada. While many may assume that ASL originated in the United States, it actually has roots in Old French Sign Language.

Old French Sign Language (OFSL) was a language used by deaf individuals in France during the 18th century. It was based on a combination of gestures, facial expressions, and body language, and was primarily used within deaf communities. OFSL was not widely known outside of France, but it did have a significant influence on the development of sign languages in other parts of the world.

In the United States, sign language was first introduced in the early 19th century by a man named Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Gallaudet was a minister who became interested in educating deaf individuals after meeting a young girl named Alice Cogswell who was deaf. He traveled to Europe to learn more about the education of deaf individuals and met a deaf teacher named Laurent Clerc who used OFSL. Gallaudet convinced Clerc to come to the United States and help him establish a school for the deaf. Together, they founded what is now known as the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

Clerc taught OFSL to the students at the American School for the Deaf, but over time, the language began to evolve. Students began to add their own signs and gestures, and the language became more Americanized. As a result, what emerged was a unique sign language that was different from OFSL, and it became known as American Sign Language.

there are still similarities between the two languages. For example, both use space and movement to convey meaning. In addition, many signs in ASL have roots in OFSL signs.

ASL is recognized as a distinct language and has its own grammar and syntax. It is the primary means of communication for many deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the United States and Canada, and it is used in a wide range of settings, including education, employment, and social interactions.

American Sign Language may have originated from Old French Sign Language, but it has evolved into a distinct language with its own unique characteristics. The influence of OFSL on the development of ASL is undeniable, and it is a testament to the power of language to adapt and change over time. As ASL continues to grow and evolve, it remains an important tool for communication and a symbol of the deaf community’s rich culture and history.