La communication au delà des mots...

Beyond Words: A Story of Gestures and Understanding

For centuries, deafness has inspired varied reflections, oscillating between misunderstanding and admiration. The ability of Deaf people to communicate through gesture and body language has captivated thinkers, philosophers, and artists, who have recognized the richness and depth of these non-verbal forms of communication.

A Historical Perspective: The Great Thinkers

Plato (427–347 BCE)

In Cratylus, Plato imagines how people might communicate without voice or spoken language. He concludes that, like Deaf people, we would naturally use our hands and bodies to express ourselves.

Aristotle (384–322 BCE)

In History of Animals, Aristotle asserts that those born deaf are also mute—reflecting the misconceptions of his era regarding sign languages and their capabilities.

Saint Augustine (354–430)

In De Magistro, Saint Augustine describes how Deaf people use their bodies to ask questions and convey abstract concepts, thereby acknowledging the richness of gestures.

François Rabelais (1494–1553)

In The Third Book, Rabelais mentions the belief that “he who has never heard cannot speak,” reflecting the historically limited perceptions of deafness.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)

In his Treatise on Painting, Leonardo admires the mastery of Deaf people in the art of communicating through gestures and movements, which he considered a superior art form.

Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)

In his Essays, Montaigne recognizes that Deaf people can argue and tell stories in signs, demonstrating that these gestures form a complete language.

Gerolamo Cardano (1501–1576)

Cardano affirms that Deaf people possess intelligence equal to that of hearing people and can succeed in all fields—a revolutionary view for his time.

Victor Hugo (1802–1885)

In The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Victor Hugo celebrates sign language and the ability of Deaf people to communicate with depth and poetry. A champion of human rights, he expressed a striking idea in his work:

“What matters deafness of the ear, when the mind hears? The one true deafness, the incurable deafness, is that of the mind.”

This quote perfectly reflects his recognition of the intellectual and cultural richness of Deaf people. By incorporating their inner world into his narratives, Hugo advocated for a more inclusive and respectful society. He was thus one of the first writers to publicly acknowledge the depth and value of Deaf culture, laying the foundations for modern thinking on inclusion.

Beyond Gestures: A Language in Its Own Right

Non-verbal communication is far more than an alternative to speech—it is a complete, rich, and nuanced language. For centuries, thinkers such as Plato, Saint Augustine, and Leonardo da Vinci have recognized the power of gestures and signs to transmit ideas, emotions, and knowledge.

Abbé de l’Épée brought this understanding to life by structuring the education of Deaf people, placing their gestures at the heart of learning and citizenship. His work legitimized a language that transcends barriers, offering thousands the possibility of being understood and heard.

His legacy reminds us that communication goes beyond words. It is a bridge that unites people, enabling everyone to find their place in a society that is more inclusive and respectful of all forms of expression.

References:

• Plato, Cratylus, XXXIV, 422d–423b, Garnier, 1967.

• Aristotle, History of Animals, Book IV, Chapter 9.

• Saint Augustine, De Magistro, Chapter 3.

• François Rabelais, The Third Book, Chapter XIX.

• Leonardo da Vinci, Treatise on Painting, French translation, 1910, Chapter 15, pp. 163–173.

• Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Book II, Chapter 12.

• Gerolamo Cardano, De utilitate ex adversis capienda, Book II, Chapter 7, Lyon, 1663.