History of British Sign Language (BSL) is marked by oppression from the hearing people. As late as the 1980s, the sign language used by the deaf communities in Britain was considered a simple collection of gestures and pantomime, while the parents of deaf children were advised not to allow their children to use signs or gesture. It was thought it would prevent them from developing lip-reading skills and speech.
Since BSL is an unwritten language, its early history is poorly understood. The very few written records about the use of sign language by the deaf communities in Britain were almost exclusively created by the hearing people which makes them questionable in regard to the language itself. But there is solid evidence that deaf people in Britain were signing as early as in the 16th century although most scholars believe that they were signing earlier.
British Sign Language Essay - 492 Words