Re: THEORY: Question about the evolution of language

John Cowan wrote:
>
> Nik Taylor scripsit:
>
> > Speaking of sign languages, what is the origin of "standard" SL's like
> > ASL?
>
> It's a daughter language of French Sign Language (with an admixture
> of now-extinct Martha's Vineyard Sign Language).  FSL was standardized
> probably based on a mixture of French home-sign systems and local
> dialects.
>
        Not exactly. FSL is really a conlang. It was created by the Abbe de
l'Epee who created the first school for deaf-mute people in France
(don't forget that at that time -it was during the reign of Louis XVI-
deaf-mute people where considered stupid, and were nearly denied of
their humanity). Of course, l'Abbe de l'Epee must have found inspiration
somewhere, but he invented all the structure of the FSL, so I think we
can call it a conlang.

> --
> John Cowan                                   cowan@ccil.org
>        I am a member of a civilization. --David Brin
--
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