Sign languages differ from spoken languages in several ways in terms of acquisition and
evolution. Here are some key differences:
1. MODALITY
Spoken languages are auditory-vocal, whereas sign languages are visual-gestural. Due
to this fundamental difference in modality, spoken languages rely on sound patterns to
transmit meaning, whereas sign languages use handshapes, facial emotions, and body
movements.
2. ACQUISITION
Deaf or hard-of-hearing children who are exposed to sign language from their caregivers
or through early education programs generally start learning sign languages at a young
age.
3. LIINGUISTIC STRUCTURE
Languages spoken by people who use sign language have their own unique phonology,
morphology, syntax, and semantics. They are more than just pictures of spoken
languages.
4. EVOLUTION
Like spoken languages, sign languages can change through time. Grammatical
structures can evolve, new signs can appear, and old signs can become obsolete.
5. WRITING
A few of the writing systems that have been developed to represent sign languages
include glossing (writing signs in a linear format), sign writing, and video recordings.
The modalities, linguistic structures, evolution, and writing systems of spoken and sign
languages vary. With their distinct grammar and cultural significance sign languages are rich
and sophisticated languages in their own right.
It has taken centuries for sign languages to develop, and it is a fascinating and intricate
process. Here are some significant turning points in the history of sign languages:
Origins in Antiquity: Sign languages have probably been around for as long as people
have needed non-verbal means of communication. Historically, Deaf people have created their
own systems of gestural communication, frequently in small, isolated settlements.
Europe, 16th to 18th century: Pedro Ponce de León, a Spanish Benedictine monk, is
frequently credited with founding one of the first known deaf schools in Spain, where he taught
using a manual alphabet.
Early in the 19th century, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc founded the
American School for the Deaf, the nation's first permanent institution for the deaf. The creation
of American Sign Language (ASL) was impacted by the expertise of French Sign Language that
Clerc brought with him.
The 20th century saw a significant increase in the acceptance of sign languages as
unique and legal languages. To promote the rights and linguistic recognition of the deaf, groups
like the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) were founded.
1960s–1970s: Because of the efforts of scholars like William Stokoe, who published
studies on ASL and showed that it had its own grammar and structure, the linguistic aspect of
sign languages was officially acknowledged.
Legal Recognition and Inclusivity: Many nations have established laws and policies to
protect the rights of people who are deaf, including access to education and public services in
sign languages. Sign languages are also now recognized as official languages in many of these
nations.
These turning points offer a broad picture of sign language evolution, but it's crucial to
remember that sign languages are varied and continue to develop in deaf communities all over
the world. They are still evolving, and they are very important to deaf people's cultural and
linguistic identities.
The following are some examples of how cultural and societal factors have influenced
sign languages:
Community Development: As a means of communication, sign languages frequently
develop within Deaf communities. Even the very fact that there is a Deaf group has cultural and
socioeconomic effects.
Cultural Values and Identity: Sign languages are significantly influenced by cultural
values and identity. Communities of the deaf frequently create signs that express their common
beliefs, experiences, and identities.
Technology and Globalization: As a result of technological advancements and a growing
global population, more people are becoming familiar with other sign languages and cultures.
In conclusion, the cultural and societal settings in which sign languages evolve are
intricately entwined with the development of sign languages.
Unlike spoken languages, sign languages have a number of distinctive qualities but
what stands the most for me is its Iconicity: Signs can resemble the things or acts they stand in
for, and sign languages frequently have a high level of iconicity. This iconicity can occasionally
result in signs that are simpler to comprehend for those who are unfamiliar with the language
and likely to be visually expressive.