Why was sign language introduced?

From what I've read, Sign Language started in France, and it started because the deaf wanted a way to communicate, plain and simple.

Sign language was introduced to give those who could not speak or speak coherently the ability to communicate. The language was introduced and refined so a common and accessable lauguage could be available to those who could not use "regular speech" to communicate. It would permit them to have an accepted and acceptable venue through which to speak and be something that could be taught and learned in a relatively easy way - even by those who could speak normally and may not necessarily have had a need to learn it.

First answer by HisPowr4U. Last edit by HisPowr4U. Contributor trust: 836 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 2 [recommend question]