The history of sign language: evolution and recognition
Sign language is now recognised as a language in its own right, but it has gone through a complex path of evolution and legitimacy over time.
The first traces of gestural communication systems go back to Antiquity, but it was in the 17th century that sign language really started to take shape. In 1760, the Abbé de l'Épée opened the first school for Deaf people in Paris, laying the foundations of modern French Sign Language (LSF).
During the 19th century, LSF grew significantly, becoming popular in schools and within Deaf communities.
However, in the 1880s, the Milan Congress reversed this trend and favoured lip-reading and speech, leading to a period of decline for sign language in Deaf education.
It was only in the 20th century that the movement to restore sign language began, with growing recognition of its cultural and identity importance.
In France, LSF was officially recognised as a language in its own right in 2005, a major turning point that helped promote its teaching and use in many areas, such as the media and public life.
Internationally, countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and others continue to develop their own sign languages, highlighting the diversity and richness of these communication systems.
Today, sign language is celebrated not only as a communication tool and a language in its own right, but also as a form of art and cultural expression.
The history of sign language reflects the struggles and victories of the Deaf community for the recognition of its rights and identity, highlighting the importance of inclusion and linguistic diversity in our modern societies.
To find out more:
Watch the France Culture programme below, with Yann Cantin, curator of the exhibition at the Panthéon on "the silent history of Deaf people" and Florence Encrevé, specialist in the history of sign language and its interpretation between the 18th and 20th centuries.
