with 565,000 inhabitants in 1750), French Sign Language is a good candidate for one of the oldest sign languages in Europe. Old French Sign Language is not related to Old French, which was spoken from roughly 1000 to 1300. References Sicard, Roche-Ambroise; 1800, Cours d'instruction d'un Sourd-Muet de Naissance Desloges, Pierre; 1779, Observations d’un sourd et muet, sur un cours élémentaire d’éducation des sourds et muets, Published in 1779 by M. l’Abbé Deschamps (Chapelain de l’Église d’Orléans), Amsterdam and B. Morin, Paris. French Sign Language family Sign languages of France Extinct sign languages Languages attested from the 18th century