When was the modern sign language system first used?
Answers (1)
People have always created sign languages, but the origins of the modern system are thought to be in Spain.
In the early 17th century a Spanish priest named Juan Pablo Bonet was working for a wealthy family which had a number of deaf and hearing impaired people in it, especially the wealthy couple's son. From watching this boy have lessons Bonet was inspired to create a system of signs so that deaf and mute people would be able to use an alphabet and learn to write. He published a book on this in 1620, and its influence was great.
Later in the century, writers from other countries including England and Scotland began to describe a manual alphabet, which people spelled out using joints and other parts of their fingers. This was a further step in creating the sign languages used today.
In the 18th century both Britain and France developed sign alphabets very similar to those in use today.
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