Here's the breakdown:
* ASL's origins are complex and go back centuries. It's believed to have roots in sign languages used by Indigenous communities in North America, with influences from French Sign Language brought by French colonists and deaf individuals.
* Thomas Gallaudet (1787-1851) played a crucial role in the development of deaf education in the United States. He traveled to Europe in 1815 to learn about sign language and methods of teaching the deaf. He specifically studied with Abbe Sicard, a prominent educator of the deaf in France.
* Gallaudet brought back the French Sign Language system to America. He didn't invent a new language, but rather adapted and expanded upon the French system, incorporating elements of existing American Sign Language.
* This adaptation and expansion led to the development of American Sign Language as we know it today. It's a distinct language with its own grammar, structure, and vocabulary.
In essence:
* Deaf communities in America were already using sign language.
* Gallaudet introduced a more formalized system based on French Sign Language.
* This influenced the development of ASL.
So, while Gallaudet was instrumental in establishing the first school for the deaf in America and promoting the use of sign language, he did not create ASL. The language itself was already a living, evolving system within the Deaf community.