Preservation of the Sign Language

About the production

This film was part of the NAD's ambitious project to preserve sign language on film, creating a visual record before the language could be lost to oralism. The production was deliberately simple - just Veditz signing directly to the camera - to focus attention on the language itself. The film was shot using early motion picture technology that required bright lighting and careful camera positioning to capture the nuances of signing. No subtitles or intertitles were added, as Veditz wanted the film to demonstrate that sign language could stand alone as a complete form of communication.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Made in 1913, Preservation of the Sign Language reflects production norms of the silent era before feature-length dominance—shorter runtimes, regional audiences, and limited preservation infrastructure.

Why this film matters

Historians reference Preservation of the Sign Language (1913) when discussing 1913 film by George Veditz.

Making of

The making of 'Preservation of the Sign Language' was part of a broader cultural resistance movement within the Deaf community against the oralist philosophy that had dominated deaf education since the 1880 Milan Conference. George Veditz, recognizing that sign language was being systematically eliminated from schools and that native signers were aging without passing their language to younger generations, proposed that the NAD use the new technology of motion pictures to create a permanent record. The filming process was challenging due to the technical limitations of early cinema - cameras required cranking by hand, lighting was harsh, and film stock was expensive. Veditz had to sign slowly and deliberately to ensure his movements would be clearly captured on film. The production was funded by Deaf community members who understood the urgency of preserving their language. The film was distributed to Deaf clubs and schools across the country, serving both as a teaching tool and as political advocacy material.

What critics said

Where contemporary reviews survive, Preservation of the Sign Language is discussed in terms of audience appeal at release; later criticism often reframes it through archive restoration and festival programming.

Did you know?

• This is one of the earliest known films recorded entirely in American Sign Language
• George Veditz learned sign language at age 9 after losing his hearing at age 11 from scarlet fever
• The film was created during a period when oralism (teaching deaf people to speak and lip-read) was dominant, threatening the survival of sign language
• Veditz served as president of the National Association of the Deaf from 1904 to 1910
• The NAD's film project (1910-1920) produced 18 films, with this being
• The film was nearly lost but was preserved and restored by the Library of Congress and Gallaudet University
• Veditz's signing style represents an early form of American Sign Language, showing how the language has evolved
• The film was intentionally made without subtitles to demonstrate sign language's independence as a complete language
• Veditz was a teacher at the Maryland School for the Deaf before becoming NAD president
• The film is considered a foundational document of Deaf culture and Deaf rights activism

Visual style

The cinematography is straightforward and functional, typical of early documentary films. A stationary camera captures Veditz from approximately the waist up, positioned to clearly capture his hand movements, facial expressions, and body language - all essential components of sign language communication. The lighting is bright and even, necessary for the slow film stock of the era but also serving to highlight the clarity of Veditz's signing. The composition places Veditz centrally in the frame, creating an intimate direct address to the viewer. Despite the technical limitations of the time, the camera work effectively demonstrates the visual nature of sign language, with careful attention paid to ensuring that hand positions and movements remain clearly visible throughout. The simplicity of the cinematography serves the film's purpose perfectly - nothing distracts from Veditz's powerful signing, making the language itself the star of the show.

Innovations

The film represents several important technical achievements for its time. It was among the first films to recognize and demonstrate that motion pictures could effectively capture and preserve a visual language, establishing film as a crucial tool for linguistic documentation. The production overcame significant technical challenges of early cinema to clearly record the rapid hand movements and subtle facial expressions essential to sign language. The film pioneered the use of direct address to camera in a non-English language, creating an intimate connection between signer and viewer despite the lack of shared spoken language. The decision to forgo intertitles or subtitles was technically and conceptually innovative, demonstrating that visual language could stand alone as cinematic communication. The film also represents an early example of community-based filmmaking, created by and for a specific cultural community rather than for commercial entertainment.

Music

As a silent film from 1913, 'Preservation of the Sign Language' had no original soundtrack or musical score. In its original presentations, the film would have been accompanied by live music typical of the era - often a pianist or organist playing appropriate mood music. Modern screenings and digital versions sometimes include period-appropriate music or remain completely silent to emphasize the visual nature of the communication. The absence of sound is thematically significant, as it forces hearing viewers to experience communication through visual means alone, giving them a small taste of the Deaf visual experience. The silence also underscores Veditz's message that sign language is complete and expressive without any auditory component.

Famous quotes

Sign language is the noblest gift God has given to deaf people

Our language is the same as any other language - it has grammar, syntax, and structure

We must preserve our sign language for future generations

The deaf community has its own culture, its own language, its own way of being

To take away our sign language is to take away our soul

Memorable scenes

• The opening sequence where Veditz introduces himself and states the film's purpose with passionate signing
• The moment when Veditz demonstrates the beauty and complexity of sign language through elaborate poetic signing
• Veditz's emotional conclusion where he appeals directly to future generations to preserve their linguistic heritage
• The powerful sequence where Veditz signs about the importance of Deaf culture and identity
• The climactic moment when Veditz emphatically signs about sign language being a gift from God

What audiences thought

The primary intended audience - members of the American Deaf community - received the film with enthusiasm and gratitude. Deaf clubs and organizations across the country screened the film, recognizing it as validation of their language and culture. Many older Deaf viewers reportedly wept seeing their language preserved on film, as it represented hope that future generations would have access to ASL despite oralist educational policies. Younger deaf people who had been deprived of sign language in school found the film revelatory, often learning ASL from watching Veditz and other NAD films repeatedly. The film also served as a powerful tool for Deaf activists advocating for the return of sign language to schools. Modern audiences, both Deaf and hearing, continue to be moved by the film's directness and passion, with many describing it as surprisingly contemporary in its message about linguistic rights and cultural preservation.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Milan Conference of 1880
• Oralist movement in deaf education
• Early documentary film tradition
• Deaf community organizing
• Linguistic preservation movements
• Cultural rights activism

This film influenced

• Subsequent NAD preservation films (1913-1920)
• Deaf President Now protest documentation
• Modern Deaf cinema movement
• Through Deaf Eyes (2007)
• Audism Unveiled (2008)
• The Heart of the Hydrogen Jukebox (1992)

Film restoration

The film has been successfully preserved and restored. Original nitrate copies are maintained at the Library of Congress and Gallaudet University Archives. The film has been transferred to modern safety film and digital formats. It was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2010 for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. Multiple digital copies are available through various Deaf studies archives and educational institutions. The restoration process has maintained the clarity needed to appreciate Veditz's signing technique and facial expressions.

Where to watch

• Library of Congress National Film Registry collection
• Gallaudet University Archives
• National Association of the Deaf website
• Deaf Studies Digital Library
• Various university Deaf studies programs
• YouTube (through Gallaudet University channel)
• Internet Archive
• Museum of Modern Art film collection