What year did the standardization of American Sign Language begin?

There isn't a single year that marks the beginning of ASL standardization. It's more of a gradual process that started in the 19th century and continues today.

Here are some key milestones:

* 1817: The first school for the deaf in the US opens in Hartford, Connecticut. This marks the start of formal education for deaf individuals and the need for a standardized language for communication.

* 1850s-1880s: Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and other educators, influenced by French Sign Language, begin to codify ASL, developing a common sign system across schools.

* 1880: The Milan Conference declares oralism (teaching speech and lip reading) as the preferred method for educating deaf children, leading to a decline in sign language use in many schools.

* 1960s-1970s: A renewed interest in sign language leads to a resurgence of ASL and efforts to document and formalize the language.

* 1980s: The emergence of linguistic research and the establishment of the ASL Research Forum further contribute to ASL standardization.

Today, ASL continues to evolve and change, with new signs being created and old ones evolving. While there's no definitive "year of standardization," the ongoing process ensures that ASL remains a vibrant and dynamic language.