French Language of the signs

The French Langue of the Signs (or in LSF, to see below) is a visual Langue which is the Langue of the signs used by the deaf-mute French (attention under the terms employed, the majority of the deaf are not dumb , with the clinical direction of the term) and certain deaf people to represent their thought. The LSF is a language with whole share and one of the pillars of the identity of the deaf culture.

The LSF would be signed by 80.000 deaf persons and between 100.000 and 150.000 deaf people.

History

For a long time, the deaf person, isolated from his community, could not enrich his language (the language of the signs) and had to be satisfied with gestural basic; so not having a worked out language, its spirit could not be structured and it was thus impossible for him to develop its intellectual abilities (from where the widespread idea that the deaf person would have less intellectual abilities: with the Moyen-âge one considered it even idiotic). It is in the families of deaf persons that could be worked out the first bases of the LSF. And it is while living together that the deaf persons could enrich their language.

The Abbé of the Sword was, in 1760, the first intending to be interested in the means of communication of “deaf-mute” by observing a couple of deaf binoculars communicate between them by gestures; he discovers the existence of a beginning of Langue of the signs. He then decides to gather the deaf children to inform them, he learns itself the language from the signs thanks to his pupils and will show the progress obtained until front the court of the king. Thus it will be able to open a true school for deaf persons which will become the National institute of the young deaf persons, today better known under the name of Institut Saint-Jacob (with Paris). With its death in 1789, it is the Abbé Sicard which will succeed to him and which will awkwardly try to impose a gestural language officially agreed and decorated “methodical signs” which will be thereafter abandoned.

However, hearing them oralists considers that the deaf persons must learn how to speak to be integrated in the French company. The Congrès of Milan in 1880 - where were not practically joined together that hearing - issues the prohibition of the use of the dialects patois. The language of the signs is thus removed teaching. Three reasons are called upon: the LSF is not a true language, it does not make it possible to speak about God and the signs prevent the deaf persons from breathing well, which supports tuberculosis. This prohibition lasted nearly one hundred years: in the schools, the professors were hearing and used the method oralist. But, for as much, the LSF did not disappear because, gathered between them in the schools, the deaf persons were from generation to generation transmitted it, most of the time during the recreation, since it was interdict to sign in classe.
In 1991, the law Fabius supports the choice of a bilingual education for the deaf persons: LSF and written and oral French. In February 2005, a law issues the LSF like official language in France.

Today, they are more or less deprived institutes or associations which again integrated the LSF in their teaching. The deaf professors are not recognized in an official way by the State education and they are hearing professors who sign, helped by deaf teachers.

Alphabet dactylologic

The dactylologic Alphabet is the way of signing the Latin alphabet. It is used to spell the proper names or the words not existing yet in LSF. The dactylology of the LSF is done with only one hand, whereas English is practiced with the two hands.

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