Did Beethoven know sign language

Answer 1

Unlikely. While there is no record of whether Beethoven did or not know sign language, it is highly unlikely, as he came from an era when men and women did not learn sign language if deafness developed during their adult life - as it did in Beethoven's case. Sign language was still evolving in the early 1800s, and it was taught primarily to children who had no other way of communicating. Beethoven, as an adult, was still capable of communicating via other ways, particularly writing. That he would learn or use sign language would be highly improbable.

Answer 2

No. Although German Sign language has been around for hundreds of years (possibly much longer than that), Beethoven went deaf later in life, and was not motivated to learn it.

In Beethoven's time, deafness was considered an embarrassment, and German Sign Language was not considered socially acceptable in high society. There was no deaf culture pride in Europe at all during that time.

Answer 3

Yes. Beethoven began to go deaf by the time he was in his late twenties. Within less than two decades, his deafness had become "intolerable", in his words.