American Sign Language (ASL) is often misunderstood as a signed version of spoken English. In reality, it’s a complete, distinct language with its own grammar, syntax, and rich cultural history — one that’s worth understanding if your business regularly works with Deaf clients, employees, or patients.
Early Roots
ASL’s origins trace back to the early 19th century, shaped by a blend of French Sign Language and various sign systems already used in Deaf communities across the United States. In 1817, the American School for the Deaf was founded in Hartford, Connecticut — one of the first formal institutions supporting Deaf education in the country, and a key site in ASL’s early development.
A Language of Its Own
Over time, ASL developed independently from spoken English, with its own grammatical structure, sentence order, and use of space and facial expression to convey meaning. This is part of why direct word-for-word translation between English and ASL doesn’t work — the two languages express ideas in fundamentally different ways, a point we touched on in our post on common myths about interpreters.
Suppression and Resilience
For much of the late 19th and 20th centuries, ASL faced significant suppression. Following the 1880 Milan Conference, oralism — teaching Deaf students to speak and lip-read rather than sign — was pushed heavily in many schools, and sign language was often discouraged or outright banned in classrooms. Despite this, ASL survived and continued evolving within Deaf communities, passed down through generations, residential schools, and Deaf clubs.
Recognition as a Legitimate Language
It wasn’t until linguistic research in the 1960s — notably by researcher William Stokoe — that ASL began to be formally recognized by linguists as a complete, natural language with its own grammar, rather than a simplified or derivative system. This recognition helped shift broader academic and public understanding of Deaf culture and sign language.
Deaf Culture and ASL Today
Today, ASL is the primary language for many Deaf individuals in the U.S. and Canada, and it’s deeply tied to Deaf culture and community identity — which is why “Deaf” is capitalized when referring to that cultural identity. The National Association of the Deaf offers further resources for anyone wanting to learn more about ASL’s structure and role in Deaf community life.
Why This History Matters for Businesses
Understanding ASL’s history helps explain why professional, certified interpretation matters so much — this is a full language with deep cultural roots, not an approximation of English. Treating it that way shapes better decisions, from hiring certified interpreters to fostering genuine inclusion in the workplace.
Want to learn more about supporting ASL communication in your business in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or beyond? Reach out to our team — we’re happy to help.