The written history of sign language begins in France in the 18th century. Charles-Michel de l'Epee founded the first ever public school for deaf children. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet founded the first American school for the deaf in 1817, and his son, Edward Miner Gallaudet, founded the first and only liberal arts college in the world for the deaf in 1857. In 1864, its name became Gallaudet University, and it remains the only such school of higher learning in the world today.In any sign language, the words are made in gestures and expression, rather than sounds and letters. Expressions are just as important as the gestures. They build upon the meaning of the gestures to convey more information than the gestures could alone.In some ways, sign language is better than the spoken word… communication can occur in areas where speaking is not appropriate (in places of worship or while hunting), not allowed (in recording studios or other places where speaking is disruptive) or physically impossible (underwater, or in places that are too loud to hear speech)

Many people look at basic sign language as if it were not even a language at all however sign language can bridge the communication gap between those who can hear and those who cannot. There should be equal opportunities for both deaf and hearing people. Deaf people are weakened in our society by the effects of discrimination and exclusion. In order to achieve a greater sense of the deaf culture, hearing people need to recognize American Sign Language in its own right. The principle of empowerment of the deaf community by broadening the number of people with whom they can communicate, would lead to greater independence for the deaf community.

Sign language enables deaf people to communicate more freely than lip reading. Lip reading is the hearing community's answer to the deaf problem. People affected by deafness and have problem in hearing, are more open to learning sign language, as they use it in daily life. There are huge advances in devices which improve deaf people lives

The knowledge of basic sign language can benefit society whether some realize how much it can or not. Many people in the deaf population have learned to lip read quite well

The deaf population may be discriminated against because most people cannot communicate with them. Sign language enables deaf people to communicate more freely than lip reading. Lip reading is the hearing community's answer to the deaf problem. Lip reading is not the answer to better communications with deaf and hard of hearing people, lip reading is the hearing man's way to communicate with deaf people but no vice versa.

There are many business owners that discriminate against the deaf because of their own disability of not knowing how to communicate with the deaf. To me it seems that the deaf are not the ones with the disability here, it is those who cannot communicate or wish not to learn how to communicate with them that have the disability. It is sad when we know we live in a world that can make adjustments for people in wheelchairs and crutches and walkers but cannot make adjustments for those who cannot hear.

There are many ways someone could learn to sign. For one, there are many courses out there that teach signing to people that can hear. Taking a class can give a person that extra boost when they are learning. Second, learning alone can be another great way to learn if you do not like the classroom atmosphere. There are many people out there who just do not have time to take a class but can study in their own time and at their own pace.

Click to know few tips to make your learning sign language more easily.