Pierre Desloges
Encyclopedia
Born in 1747 in the Touraine
region of France
, Pierre Desloges moved to Paris
as a young man, where he became a bookbinder
and upholsterer
. He was deafened at age seven from smallpox
, but did not learn to sign until he was twenty-seven, when he was taught by a deaf Italian.
In 1779, he wrote what may be the first book published by a deaf person, in which he advocated for the use of sign language
in deaf education
. It was in part a rebuttal of the views of Abbé Claude-François Deschamps de Champloiseau, who had published a book arguing against the use of signs. Desloges explained, "like a Frenchman who sees his language belittled by a German who only knows a few French words, I thought I was obliged to defend my language against the false charges of this author." He describes a community of deaf people using a sign language (now referred to as Old French Sign Language
).
The Abbe de l’Epee has often been credited with the invention of sign language, but this is incorrect. Desloges' book proves that French Sign Language
predates the establishment of the famous school for the Deaf in Paris
, and is truly the invention of deaf people.
Desloges also wrote a number of well-received political books around the time of the French Revolution
. The time and place of his death are unknown, but he published a book as late as 1792. Some suggest he died in 1799.
Touraine
The Touraine is one of the traditional provinces of France. Its capital was Tours. During the political reorganization of French territory in 1790, the Touraine was divided between the departments of Indre-et-Loire, :Loir-et-Cher and Indre.-Geography:...
region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Pierre Desloges moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
as a young man, where he became a bookbinder
Bookbinding
Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book from a number of folded or unfolded sheets of paper or other material. It usually involves attaching covers to the resulting text-block.-Origins of the book:...
and upholsterer
Upholstery
Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
. He was deafened at age seven from smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, but did not learn to sign until he was twenty-seven, when he was taught by a deaf Italian.
In 1779, he wrote what may be the first book published by a deaf person, in which he advocated for the use of sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
in deaf education
Deaf education
Deaf education is the academic discipline concerned the education of students with various hearing capabilities in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs.Deaf education also includes the study of:* Special education...
. It was in part a rebuttal of the views of Abbé Claude-François Deschamps de Champloiseau, who had published a book arguing against the use of signs. Desloges explained, "like a Frenchman who sees his language belittled by a German who only knows a few French words, I thought I was obliged to defend my language against the false charges of this author." He describes a community of deaf people using a sign language (now referred to as Old French Sign Language
Old French Sign Language
Old French Sign Language is a term that loosely describes the language of the deaf community in 18th century Paris at the time of the establishment of the first deaf schools...
).
The Abbe de l’Epee has often been credited with the invention of sign language, but this is incorrect. Desloges' book proves that French Sign Language
French Sign Language
French Sign Language is the sign language of the deaf in the nation of France. According to Ethnologue, it has 50,000 to 100,000 native signers....
predates the establishment of the famous school for the Deaf in Paris
Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris
Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris is the current name of the famous school for the Deaf founded by Charles-Michel de l'Épée in 1760 in Paris, France....
, and is truly the invention of deaf people.
Desloges also wrote a number of well-received political books around the time of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. The time and place of his death are unknown, but he published a book as late as 1792. Some suggest he died in 1799.
Further reading
- Desloges, P. Observations d'un sourd et muèt, sur un cours elémentaire d'education des sourds et muèts, Published in 1779 by M. l'Abbé Deschamps (Chapelain de l'Église d'Orléans), Amsterdam and B. Morin, Paris.
- Fischer, Renate. The Study of Natural Sign Language in Eighteenth-Century France. Sign Language Studies - Volume 2, Number 4, Summer 2002, pp. 391–406
- Moody, William: Pierre Desloges (1747-?). In: Cleve, John V. van (ed): Gallaudet encyclopedia of deaf people and deafness. Vol. 1. A-G. New York, NY [u.a.] : McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. (1987) - pp. 301–302