Linguistic+Influences

Observations, speculations, and reflections regarding Clerc's linguistic abilities and choices.

The rich and unique history of the Deaf, as told in "When the Mind Hears," by Harlan Lane, provides a narrative retelling of this eventful timeline from the perspective of Laurent Clerc. Clerc's view of this history, however, is from within the timeline itself with much of his insight derived from participation and primary sources. To this end, Clerc's ability to express his deep and intricate thoughts indicates his high linguistic capacity and a fresh view of Deaf history from the eyes of a member of its own community. Much of the following observations and insights were gained through the reading of this text.

In an effort to analyze the languistic nature of Clerc, the etiology of his deafness, a view of his educational career, and his use of the developed language all require input. Some of the history is unclear as to specific facts, but through the use of multiple resources, each of the aformentioned aspects of Clerc's life will be studied and reported. There were many involved in his early life during his language acqisition including the infamous abbé de L'epeé, abbé Sicard, and Jean Massieu. In later years, a connection with Gallaudet provides a clear opportunity to see the flourishment and implementation of the his language. His story is intertwined with others', along with politics and some advenure along the way.

Two possible causes of Clerc's deafness offer one answer: he was pre-lingually deaf. In his account, Clerc tells the story of him falling into the fireplace at the young age of 1, resulting in a burn on his cheek. This is one potential explanation, but an equally plausible conclusion is that he was congenitally deaf and in his early years this had gone unnoticed. Regardless of its etiology, his deafness was defined well before language acquisition; therefore speech input did not influence his language development as a child.

Although he did not attend school until the age of twelve, which is a typical predictor of language delay, Clerc was able to overcome the challenge of a late education. In fact, he mastered the national language of his country, French, in its written form as well as the manual version and Langue des Signes Francaise. One experience that left a lasting impression was a session of speech therapy. These bitter feelings led Clerc to vow never to speak again. This occurance was during articulation practice when the teacher caused a severe biting of Clerc's tongue. Therefore the use of manual and written communication were used exclusively from that scaring moment forward.

While attending the Assylum for the Deaf in Paris, the education was in the hands of the abbé de L'Epeé and Sicard. The method of teaching language at the time was manual communication by which all affixes and latin roots had a sign/gesture. However this became quite the task and took an unreasonable amount of time to produce. Students used what is now called LSF. L'Epeé's system of manual communication was an attempt to harness the grammar of French and make it accessible and clear to the Deaf. This was successful as a means of instructing grammar, which Clerc used as the vehicle for acquiring written language, but again LSF was used in conversation and acquired by other students in the school. Amongst all of the language options of that time, it appears that the manual French was used for instruction, while LSF was preferred socially.

Clerc went on numerous public demonstrations where the audience would present questions and he would respond with careful thought and grammatical precision in sign and in writing. This showed his clear progress from when he entered the school to his full use and fluency in several languages. Clerc even reports, "I realized there was a difference between the home signs I used with my family and the sign language in use among the deaf in Paris...I came out from a cave in which the shadows of meanings had flickered, cryptic and ominous, on the gray walls; when I came out into the bright day of true communication, where meanings where as plain as the hand in front of your face, where a message was no sooner expressed than understood." Evidently the abilities of Clerc's use of language were extensive. He was not held back by his deafness and continued to impress people with his fluency in multiple languages. This was also noticeable when he visited and returned to the United States in an effort to establish a quality education for the deaf.

**** These notes will be added to shortly, including expansion from other sources***