Samuel Heinicke, the "Artifical Method" and Deafness

For a couple of months I have been interested in writing fiction with a deaf main character, and for even longer, I have been interested in learning BSL. But the more I research, the more I realise how little I know about the world of deafness.

Take the "Artificial Method", also known as the "German Method", for teaching Deaf students how to communicate with the power of speech. According to an extract, 'It takes a much longer time to educate the pupils by this system than by any other methods, and more painful to the efforts on the part of the pupil. Indeed in many cases it is so painful to the poor deaf-mute as to cause blood to issue from the mouth.' Canadian Illustrated News, August 1st, 1874.

This method is thought to have been refined and made popular by Samuel Heinicke, a man who
rejected the inheritance of his farming background and eventually opened a school that specialised in teaching deaf children. Samuel Heinickke sought to use a logical, systemanic approach, inspired by earlier European oral advocates and teachers, Amman and Baron van Helmont. (Margret A. Winzer 1993)

The school still runs in Germany. Although the school itself taught language to the deaf in various ways including sign, reading and writing, he claimed "It is only by learning articulated speech that a deaf person gains position in a hearing society” (Eriksson, p54). This method opposed the system of instruction in Paris, created by Épée, who was keen to focus on sign language. This can be understood further in his 'L'instruction des sourds et muets par la voie des signes méthodiques.' The instruction of the deaf and dumb by the sign method, 1776.

Admittingly, I had no idea about the Artifical/German Method and still know very little about it. A quick search reveals that he sometimes used the senses of taste to help bring this about, but I think I'm going to look into this a little more later.

I'm also reading "Deafening" by Frances Itani, which focuses on a main character who is deaf, and uses the "Artificial Method" amongst other methods of communication. May do a book review later.

Further Information:
- Samuel Heinicke was inspired by a book called "Surdus loquens," or "The Speaking Deaf," which was explained how a European doctor taught the deaf to speak.
- http://lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/heinicke-samuel.htm -- Interesting introduction with a good bibliography for broadening research.

Recommended reading:
The History of Special education: From Isolation to Intergration by Margret A. Winzer, 1993.

Updated 2nd of Jan, 2013.