manualism

Noun

manualism (uncountable)

1. (sign language) A philosophy of education for the deaf, emphasizing visual sign language using the hands.
   • Some argued that oralism was the best way to teach language to the deaf, while others argued that manualism worked best.
2. The art of playing music by squeezing air through the hands.
3. The practice of producing manuals, or instruction books, to train the Roman Catholic clergy.