Located in Western Europe, this global centre of art, science, and philosophy is also a vital piece of American Sign Language history.
In the 19th century, Thomas Gallaudet travelled to England, where he found methods of deaf education in France. Studying in Paris under Abbe Sicard and Laurent Clerc, Gallaudet returned with Clerc to the States in 1817 to open the first American School for the Deaf. In that school, French Sign Language merged with local signs to create American Sign Language. Even now, ASL shares 60% of its signs and roots with Old French sign language
My ASL Dictionary’s cartoon of Joan of Arc illustrates the hand signs for FRANCE and FRENCH (now including the French LSF hand sign for FRANCE).
FRANCE
The F hand palm out twists to the side with its palm in. The twisting motion mimics the old French tradition of pulling out a handkerchief to signal interest.
In France’s Langue des signes française, LSF, the F hand is dragged in front of the chest.
FRENCH relating to its country, its people or language
The F hand palm in twists out to the side with its palm out, the opposite movement of FRANCE.
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