Chinese Sign Language

Short description: Official sign language of the PRC

Chinese Sign Language

中国手语, Zhōngguó Shǒuyǔ
Native to| China and some parts of Taiwan
Signers| 4.2 million (2021)e25

Language family

Chinese Sign Language

Dialects|

* Northern (Beijing) CSL
* Southern (Shanghai) CSL

Language codes
ISO 639-3|
`csl` – Chinese Sign
Glottolog| `nucl1761`[1]

Chinese Sign Language (abbreviated CSL or ZGS; simplified Chinese: 中国手语; traditional Chinese: 中國手語; pinyin: Zhōngguó Shǒuyǔ) is the main sign language used in China. It is not related to the Taiwanese Sign Language used in Taiwan. Manually coded Mandarin is referred to as Wénfǎ Shǒuyǔ (simplified Chinese: 文法手语; traditional Chinese: 文法手語; literally: 'grammatical sign language').[2]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Classification
* 3 Structure
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 5.1 Sources

## History

The first references to sign language (simplified Chinese: 手语; traditional Chinese: 手語; pinyin: shǒuyǔ; literally: 'hand language') in Chinese literature date from the Tang dynasty, documenting a sign for 'mirror'.[3] In the Song dynasty, Su Dongpo describes a community that employed a form of sign language.[3] Later in the Ming dynasty, there is a portrayal of signing in a play entitled Zen Master Yu Has a Dream of Cui Village (also translated A Dream of Master Jade in Green Village; simplified Chinese: 玉禅师翠乡一梦; traditional Chinese: 玉禪師翠鄉一夢; pinyin: Yù Chánshī Cuìxiāng Yī Mèng) by Xu Wei.[3]

The first deaf school in China, the Chefoo (Chinese: 芝罘; pinyin: Zhīfú, an alternative name of Yantai) School for the Deaf, was established in 1887 by the Presbyterian missionary Annetta Thompson Mills. From the school, a sign language based on an oralist approach to deaf education was developed, coming out of the Milan Conference of 1880.[4] Another school for the deaf was established in Shanghai in 1897 by a French Catholic organization. Chinese Sign Language was grown out of these two bases.[5]

Schools, workshops and farms for the deaf in diverse locations are the main ways that CSL has been able to spread in China so well. Other deaf people who are not connected to these gathering places tend to use sets of gestures developed in their own homes, known as home sign.

The Chinese National Association of the Deaf was created by deaf people mostly from the United States in 1992.[6] The main reason for the creation of the organization was to raise the quality of living for the deaf, which was behind the quality of living standards provided for other disabled persons. Their main goals are to improve the welfare of the deaf, encourage education about the deaf and Chinese Sign Language, and promote the needs of the deaf community in China.

## Classification

There are two main dialects of Chinese Sign Language: Southern CSL (centered on Shanghai and influenced by French Sign Language) and Northern CSL (coming out of the Chefoo School of Deaf and influenced by American Sign Language (ASL)).[5] Northern CSL has the greater influence from Chinese, with for example character puns[clarification needed]. Hong Kong Sign Language derives from the southern dialect, but can now be considered a separate language due to an extensive period of separate divergence.[7] The Shanghai dialect is found in Malaysia and Taiwan, but Chinese Sign Language is not genetically related to Taiwan Sign Language (which is part of the Japanese family), Malaysian Sign Language (of the French family), or to Tibetan Sign Language (isolate).

CSL shares morphology for forming negative clauses with British Sign Language; it may be that this is due to historical contact with the British in Shanghai.[7] A feature of both CSL and British Sign Language is the use in many related signs of the thumb for a positive meaning and of the pinkie for a negative meaning, such as DON'T KNOW.

## Structure

Like most other sign languages, Chinese Sign Language is mostly conveyed through shapes and motions joined with facial expressions. CSL has at its disposal an alphabetic spelling system similar to pinyin. This was officially adopted in December 1963 as the 'Chinese Fingerspelling Scheme' (simplified Chinese: 汉语手指字母方案; traditional Chinese: 漢語手指字母方案; pinyin: Hànyǔ Shǒuzhǐ Zìmǔ Fāng'àn).[8][9] It is a one-handed manual alphabet, most similar to languages in the Francosign family such as the French and American manual alphabets. A key feature of the fingerspelling is the treatment of pinyin ZH, CH, SH and NG as single fingerspelling signs, rather than sequences of two letter signs, as would be expected from the pinyin; this reflects the phonemic status of these oral sounds in Standard Chinese phonology.[9]

The Chinese culture and language heavily influence signs in CSL. For example, there is no generic word for "brother" in CSL, only two distinct signs, one for "older brother" and one for "younger brother". This parallels Chinese, which also specifies "older brother" or "younger brother" rather than simply "brother". Similarly, the sign for "eat" incorporates a pictorial representation for chopsticks instead of using the hand as in ASL.

## See also

* Deafness in China
* Deafness in Taiwan

## References

1. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds (2017). "Nuclear CSLic". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. http://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/nucl1761.
2. ↑ Tai, James; Tsay, Jane (2015). Sign Languages of the World: A Comparative Handbook. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. 772. ISBN 9781614518174. https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZqnCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA772. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Yang, Jun Hui (2008). Sign bilingualism : language development, interaction, and maintenance in sign language contact situations. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. p. 299. ISBN 978-9027290427. https://books.google.com/books?id=aoyUw-Mb9nQC. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
4. ↑ McLeister, Mark (August 2019). "Worship, Technology and Identity: A Deaf Protestant Congregation in Urban China" (in en). Studies in World Christianity 25 (2): 220–237. doi:10.3366/swc.2019.0258. ISSN 1354-9901. https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/files/110374439/YE2018_McLeister_Worship_TechnologyandIdentity_REVISED_1_.pdf.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gertz, Genie; Boudreault, Patrick, eds (2016). SAGE. pp. 219–221. doi:10.4135/9781483346489.n74. ISBN 9781452259567. http://sk.sagepub.com/reference/the-sage-deaf-studies-encyclopedia/i1524.xml.
6. ↑ "社團法人中華民國聽障人協會-沿革與宗旨". http://www.cnad.org.tw/ap/cust_view.aspx?bid=16.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Fischer, S.; Gong, Q. (2010). "Variation in East Asian sign language structures". in Brentari, Diane. Sign Languages. pp. 499. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511712203.023. ISBN 9780511712203.
8. ↑ Wang, Deshen 王德深; Sun, Guizhi 孙桂芝 (2000). Shǒuyǔ Jīchǔ 手语基础. Beijing: People's Education Press. ISBN 9787107136108.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Pasden, John (1 April 2007). "Chinese Sign Language: Fingerspelling". https://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2007/04/02/chinese-sign-language-fingerspelling.

### Sources

* CSL: Chinese Sign Language
* Berke, Jamie (June 9, 2020). "Deafness Around the World – From South Africa to Mexico". Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230501082255/https://website_that_must_not_be_named/deafness-around-the-world-1048373.
* Berke, Jamie (November 4, 2015). "Deaf Community - China Becoming More Like Us". http://deafness.about.com/od/internationaldeaf/a/chinesedeaf.htm.
* Seen Not Heard by Cassie Biggs. From Weekend: February 26–27, 2005
* Chinese Sign Language: by Elizabeth T. Yeh, 10/28/04

* v
* t
* e

Languages of China

Official|

* Standard Mandarin

Regional|

| ARs / SARs|

* CantoneseHK/MC
* EnglishHK
* MongolianNM
* PortugueseMC
* TibetanXZ
* UyghurXJ
* ZhuangGX

|

Prefecture|

* Hmong
* Kam
* Bouyei
* Tujia
* Korean
* Qiang
* Yi
* Kyrgyz
* Kazakh
* Tai Nüa
* Tai Lü
* Zaiwa
* Lisu
* Bai
* Hani
* Zhuang

Counties/Banners|

numerous

Indigenous|

Sino-Tibetan languages

| Lolo-
Burmese|

| Mondzish|

* Kathu
* Maang
* Manga
* Mango
* Maza
* Mondzi
* Muangphe

|

Burmish|

* Achang
* Xiandao
* Pela
* Lashi
* Chashan
* Lhao Vo
* Zaiwa

Loloish|

| Hanoish|

* Akeu
* Akha
* Amu
* Angluo
* Asuo
* Baihong
* Bisu
* Budu
* Bukong
* Cosao
* Duoni
* Duota
* Enu
* Habei
* Hani
* Honi
* Jino
* Kabie
* Kaduo
* Lami
* Laomian
* Laopin
* Mpi
* Muda
* Nuobi
* Nuomei
* Phana’
* Piyo
* Qidi
* Sadu
* Sangkong
* Suobi
* Tsukong
* Woni
* Yiche

|

Lisoish|

* Eka
* Hlersu
* Kua-nsi
* Kuamasi
* Laizisi
* Lalo
* Lamu
* Lavu
* Lawu
* Limi
* Lipo
* Lisu
* Lolopo
* Mangdi
* Micha
* Mili
* Sonaga
* Toloza
* Xuzhang
* Yangliu
* Zibusi

Nisoish|

* Alingpo
* Alugu
* Aluo
* Axi
* Azha
* Azhe
* Bokha
* Gepo
* Khlula
* Lope
* Moji
* Muji
* Muzi
* Nasu
* Nisu
* Nuosu
* Phala
* Phola
* Phowa
* Phukha
* Phuma
* Phupa
* Phupha
* Phuza
* Samei
* Sani
* Thopho
* Zokhuo

Other|

* Gokhy
* Katso
* Kucong
* Lahu
* Naruo
* Namuyi
* Naxi
* Nusu
* Samu
* Sanie
* Zauzou

Qiangic|

* Baima
* Choyo
* Ersu
* Guiqiong
* Horpa
* Japhug
* Khroskyabs
* Laze
* Lizu
* Na
* Muya
* Namuyi
* Naxi
* Pumi
* Northern Qiang
* Southern Qiang
* Shixing
* Situ
* Tshobdun
* Zbu
* Zhaba

Tibetic|

* Amdo
* Baima
* Basum
* Central Tibetan
* Choni
* Dao
* Dongwang
* Drugchu
* Groma
* Gserpa
* Khalong
* Khams
* Kyirong
* Ladakhi
* Tseku
* Zhongu
* Zitsadegu

Other|

* Bai
* Caijia
* Derung
* Jingpho
* Longjia
* Nung
* Tujia
* Waxianghua

Other languages

| Austroasiatic|

* Bit
* Blang
* Bolyu
* Bugan
* Bumang
* Hu
* Kuan
* Mang
* Man Met
* Muak Sa-aak
* Palaung
* Riang
* U
* Va
* Wa

|

Hmong-Mien|

| Hmongic|

* A-Hmao
* Bu-Nao
* Gejia
* Guiyang
* Hm Nai
* Hmong
* Hmu
* Huishui
* Kiong Nai
* Luobohe
* Mashan
* Pa-Hng
* Pa Na
* Pingtang
* Qo Xiong
* Raojia
* She
* Small Flowery
* Xixiu
* Younuo

|

Mienic|

* Biao Min
* Dzao Min
* Iu Mien
* Kim Mun

Mongolic|

* Bonan
* Buryat
* Daur
* Eastern Yugur
* Kangjia
* Khamnigan
* Monguor
* Oirat
* Ordos
* Santa
* Torgut

Kra-Dai|

| Zhuang|

* Bouyei
* Dai
* Min
* Ningming
* Nong
* Tai Dam
* Tai Dón
* Tai Hongjin
* Tai Lü
* Tai Nüa
* Tai Ya
* Yang
* Yei

|

Other|

* Ai-Cham
* Biao
* Buyang
* Cao Miao
* Chadong
* Cun
* Gelao
* Hlai
* Jiamao
* Kam
* Lakkja
* Mak
* Maonan
* Mulam
* Naxi Yao
* Ong Be
* Paha
* Qabiao
* Sui
* Then

Tungusic|

* Evenki
* Manchu
* Nanai
* Oroqen
* Xibe

Turkic|

* Äynu
* Fuyu Kyrgyz
* Ili Turki
* Lop
* Salar
* Western Yugur

Other|

* Sarikoli (Indo-European)
* Tsat (Austronesian)
* Formosan languages (Austronesian)

Minority|

* Kazakh
* Korean
* Kyrgyz
* Russian
* Tatar
* Tuvan
* Uzbek
* Vietnamese (Kinh)
* Wakhi

Varieties of
Chinese|

* Mandarin
* Southwestern
* Dongbei
* Jiang Huai
* Gan
* Hakka
* Hui
* Jin
* Min
* varieties
* Ping
* Wu
* Wenzhounese
* Xiang
* Yue
* Cantonese

Creole/Mixed|

* E
* Hezhou
* Lingling
* Macanese
* Maojia
* Qoqmončaq
* Sanqiao
* Tangwang
* Wutun

Extinct|

* Ba-Shu
* Jie
* Khitan
* Ruan-ruan
* Saka
* Tangut
* Tocharian
* Tuoba
* Tuyuhun
* Xianbei
* Zhang-Zhung

Sign|

* Chinese Sign
* Hong Kong SignHK/MC
* Tibetan SignXZ

* GX = Guangxi
* HK = Hong Kong
* MC = Macau
* NM = Inner Mongolia
* XJ = Xinjiang
* XZ = Tibet

* v
* t
* e

Sign language

* List of sign languages
* List by number of signers

Language families[a]|

Sign languages by family

Aboriginal
Australian|

* Eltye eltyarrenke
* Iltyeme iltyeme
* Rdaka rdaka
* Manjiljarra
* Warlmanpa
* Warramunga
* Mudburra
* Ngada
* Umpila
* Western Desert
* Western Torres Strait Islander
* Yan-nhaŋu
* Yir Yoront
* Yolŋu
* Djingili
* Meriam
* Miriwoong
* Worora Kinship

Arab Sign|

* Egyptian
* Kuwaiti
* Libyan
* Qatari Unified
* Yemeni

| Iraqi–
Levantine|

* Iraqi
* Levantine Arabic
* Jordanian
* Lebanese
* Palestinian
* Syrian

|

Possible|

* Emirati
* Saudi
* Omani

BANZSL|

* Auslan
* Papua New Guinean
* BSL
* Northern Ireland
* Fijian
* MSL
* NZSL
* Sāmoan
* SASL

| Swedish|

* EriSL
* Finland-Swedish
* Portuguese
* Teckenspråk
* Viittomakieli

|

Francosign|

* Proto-LSF

* Algerian
* DSGS
* Eesti viipekeel
* Irish
* Australian-Irish
* Libras
* Lithuanian
* LSC
* LSV
* LSCh
* LSF
* Romanian

Amslanic|

* American
* Black ASL
* Protactile
* BIM
* Bolivian
* Burmese
* Cambodian
* Costa Rican
* Dominican
* Greek
* Cypriot
* Jamaican
* Kuala Lumpur
* Panamanian
* Philippine
* Puerto Rican
* Quebec
* Singapore

| BISINDO|

* Jakarta
* Yogyakarta

|

Francophone African|

* Ethiopian
* Chadian
* Ghanaian
* Guinean
* LaSiMa
* Moroccan
* Nigerian
* Sierra Leonean

Austro-
Hungarian|

* Czech
* Hungarian
* ÖGS
* Slovak
* Ukrainian (УЖМ/USL)

| Russian|

* Bulgarian (БЖЕ)
* Georgian
* Latvian
* Mongolian
* Russian (РЖЯ)

|

Yugoslav|

* HZJ
* Kosovar
* Serbian
* Slovenian
* Yugoslav

Old Belgian|

* VGT
* LSFB

Danish|

* Malagasy
* Táknmál
* Tegnspråk
* Tegnsprog
* Teknmál

Dutch|

* NGT
* Gambian

Italian|

* LIS
* Tunisian

Mexican|

* LSM
* LESHO

Viet-Thai|

* Hai Phong
* Hanoi
* Ho Chi Minh
* Thai

Germanosign|

* DGS
* PJM
* Shassi

Indo-Pakistani
Sign|

* Bangalore-Madras
* Beluchistan
* Bengali
* Bombay
* Calcutta
* Delhi
* Nepali
* North West Frontier Province
* Punjab-Sindh

Kentish|

* Old Kentish

| Chilmark|

* Chilmark

* MVSL

Meemul Tziij|

* Highland Maya
* Nohya

Original Thai Sign|

* Chiangmai
* Hai Phong
* Old Bangkok

Paget Gorman|

* Namibian
* Diyari
* Jaralde
* Kalkutungu
* Pitha Pitha
* Warluwara

Paraguayan-
Uruguayan Sign|

* Paraguay
* Uruguay

Plains Sign Talk|

* Hand Talk
* Anishinaabe
* Apsáalooke
* Arikara
* Chaticks si Chaticks
* Cheyenne
* Coahuilteco
* Dane-zaa
* Diné
* Hinono'eino
* Hiraacá
* Icāk
* Karankawa
* Liksiyu
* Maagiadawa
* Meciciya ka pekiskwakehk
* Nakota
* Ni Mii Puu
* Niimíipuu
* Niitsítapi
* Nųmą́khų́·ki
* Nʉmʉnʉʉ
* Omaha
* Palus
* Piipaash
* Ppáⁿkka
* Schitsu'umsh
* Shiwinna
* Sioux
* Taos
* Tickanwa•tic
* Tháumgá
* Tsuu T'ina
* Umatilla
* Wazhazhe
* Wichita
* Wíyut'a / Wíblut'e
* Wyandot

| Plateau|

* A'aninin
* Kalispel
* ʾa·qanⱡiⱡⱡitnam
* Nesilextcl'n
* Secwepemcékst
* Sqeliz

|

Providencia–
Cayman Sign|

* Provisle
* Old Cayman (Guyanese)

Japanese Sign|

* Japanese
* Korean
* Taiwanese

Chinese Sign|

* Chinese

| Shanghai|

* Shanghai

* Hong Kong
* Macau

Isolates|

* Afghan
* Al-Sayyid Bedouin
* Albanian
* Amami Oshima
* Armenian
* Armenian Women's
* Belizean
* Bhutanese
* Bökyi lagda
* Bribri
* Brunca
* Bura
* Chatino
* Cuban
* Diné Family
* Dogon
* Ecuadorian
* Eritrean
* Enga
* Ghandruk
* Ghardaia
* Guatemalan
* Guinea-Bissau
* Henniker
* Hoailona ʻŌlelo
* Inuit
* Atgangmuurniq
* Ussersuataarneq
* Jhankot
* Jumla
* Ka'apor
* Kajana
* Kafr Qasim
* Kata Kolok
* Kenyan
* Somali
* Keresign
* Kisindo
* Konchri Sain
* Lyons
* Macedonian
* Maltese
* Magannar Hannu
* Mardin
* Mauritian
* M'bour
* Miyakubo
* Mossi
* Mozambican
* Mumu kasa
* Nicaraguan
* Old Costa Rican
* Ottoman
* Pasa kidd
* Penang
* Persian
* Peruvian
* Rennellese
* Rwandan
* Sandy River
* Salvadoran
* Spanish
* Tebul
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Turkish
* Ugandan
* Venezuelan
* West African
* Adasl
* Burasl
* Mofu-Gudur
* Nanabinsl
* Yoruban
* Zambian

Other groupings|

* Ethiopian languages
* Laotian languages
* Sri Lankan languages
* Sudanese languages
* Tanzanian languages (7+)[b]

* International Sign

By region[a]|

Sign languages by region

Oceania|

Australia
Auslan
Australian-Irish
Eltye eltyarrenke
Far North Queensland Indigenous
Iltyeme iltyeme
Rdaka rdaka
Manjiljarra
Warlmanpa
Warramunga
Mudburra
Ngada
Umpila
Western Desert
Western Torres Strait Islander
Yir Yoront
Yolŋu

Hawaii (USA)
Haoilona ʻŌlelo
Samoa and American Samoa
Samoan
New Zealand
NZSL

Asia|

Bengal
Bengali
Cambodia
Cambodian
China
Chinese
Hong Kong
HKSL
Indonesia
Indonesian
Kata Kolok (Benkala, Balinese)
India
Alipur
Bengali
Indo-Pakistani
Naga
Iran
Persian
Iraq
Iraqi
Kurdish
Israel
Al-Sayyid Bedouin
Ghardaia
Israeli
Kafr Qasem
Japan
Amami Oshima
Japanese
Miyakubo
Korea
Korean
Laos
Laotian
Malaysia
Malaysian
Penang
Selangor
Mongolia
Mongolian
Nepal
Ghandruk
Jhankot
Jumla
Nepalese
Philippines
Philippine
Saudi Arabia
Saudi
Singapore
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan
Taiwan
Taiwanese
Tajikistan
Russian
Tibet
Bökyi lagda
Thailand
Bangkok
Chiangmai
Thai
Ban Khor (Pasa kidd)
Vietnam
Vietnamese

Africa|

Algeria
Algerian
Ghardaia
Cameroon
Maroua
Ghana
Adamorobe
Nanabin
Ivory Coast
Bouakako (LaSiBo)
Kenya
Kenyan
Mali
Tebul
Bamako (LaSiMa)
Nigeria
Bura
Magannar Hannu
Senegal
Mbour
Somalia & Djibouti
Somali
South Africa
South African
Tanzania
Tanzanian
Uganda
Ugandan
Zambia
Zambian

North America|

Plains Sign Talk
Canada
American

Protactile
Blackfoot
Cree
Ojibwa
MSL
Quebec
Atgangmuurniq
Plateau
Greenland
Ussersuataarneq
Mexico
Chatino
Mayan
Mexican
United States
American

Black American
Protactile
Blackfeet
Cree
Cheyenne
Ojibwa
Keresign
Martha's Vineyard
Navajo
Navajo Family
Sandy River Valley
Henniker

Central and
South America

Argentina
Argentine
Belize
Belizean
Bolivia
Bolivian
Brazil
Libras
Ka'apor
Cayman
Old Cayman
Chile
Chilean
Colombia
Colombian
Provisle
Costa Rica
Bribri
Brunca
Old Costa Rican
New Costa Rican
Cuba
Cuban
Ecuador
Ecuadorian
Guatemalan
Guatemalan
Mayan
Haiti
Haitian
Honduras
Honduran
Nicaragua
Nicaraguan
Panama
Chiriqui
Panamanian
Paraguay
Paraguayan
Peru
Peruvian
Sivia
El Salvador
Salvadoran
Old Salvadoran
Uruguay
Uruguayan
Venezuela
Venezuelan

Europe|

Armenia
Armenian
Austria
Austrian
Belgium
Flemish
French Belgian
United Kingdom
British
Croatia
Croatian
Denmark
Danish
Teknmál
Netherlands
Dutch
Estonia
Estonian
Finland
Finnish
France
Ghardaia
French
Lyons
Germany
German
Greece
Greek
Hungary
Hungarian
Iceland
Icelandic
Ireland
Irish
Italy
Italian
Kosovo
Kosovar
Lithuania
Lithuanian
Moldova
Russian
North Macedonia
Macedonian
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Norway
Norwegian
Poland
Polish
Portugal
Portuguese
Russia
Russian
Slovenia
Slovenian
Spain
Catalan
Spanish
Valencian
Sweden
Swedish
Switzerland
Swiss
Turkey
Central Taurus
Mardin
Turkish
Ukraine
Ukrainian

International|

* International Sign
* Makaton
* Monastic
* Signalong

ASL|

* Grammar
* Idioms
* Literature
* Profanity
* Name signs

Extinct
languages|

* Chilmark
* Diyari
* Jaralde
* Kalkutungu
* Henniker Sign Language
* Martha's Vineyard
* Old French
* Old Kent
* Plateau Sign Language
* Pitha Pitha
* Sandy River Valley Sign Language
* Warluwara

Linguistics|

* Grammar (ASL)
* Bimodal bilingualism
* Cherology
* Handshape / Location / Orientation / Movement / Expression
* Mouthing
* Sign names

Fingerspelling|

* American
* British (two-handed)
* Catalan
* Chilean
* French
* Hungarian
* Irish
* Japanese
* Korean
* Polish
* Russian
* Serbo-Croatian
* Spanish
* Ukrainian

Writing|

* ASL-phabet
* Hamburg Notation System

| Stokoe notation|

* Stokoe notation

| SignWriting|

* SignWriting

| si5s|

* si5s
* ASLwrite ()

|

Language
contact|

* Contact sign
* Indian Signing System
* Initialized sign
* Manually coded English
* Manually coded language in South Africa
* Manually Coded Malay
* Mouthing
* Paget Gorman Sign System
* Signed Dutch
* Signed French
* Signed German
* Signed Italian
* Signed Japanese
* Signed Polish
* Signed Spanish
* Signing Exact English
* Tecknad svenska

* Bilingual–bicultural education
* Manually coded language

Media|

* Films (list)
* Television programmes (list)

Persons|

* Jabbar Baghtcheban
* Johanna Berglind
* Pär Aron Borg
* Thomas Braidwood
* Laurent Clerc
* Abbé de l'Épée
* Roger Fouts
* Valerie Sutton
* Thomas Gallaudet
* Abbe Sicard
* William Stokoe
* Pierre Pélissier

Organisations|

* Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada
* International Center on Deafness and the Arts
* Mimics and Gesture Theatre
* World Association of Sign Language Interpreters

Miscellaneous|

* Baby sign language
* CHCI chimpanzee center (Washoe, Loulis)
* Open Outcry
* Legal recognition
* Military hand and arm signals
* Monastic sign languages
* Tactile signing
* Tic-tac (betting)

^a Sign-language names reflect the region of origin. Natural sign languages are not related to the spoken language used in the same region. For example, French Sign Language originated in France, but is not related to French. Conversely, ASL and BSL both originated in English-speaking countries but are not related to each other; ASL however is related to French Sign Language. ^b Denotes the number (if known) of languages within the family. No further information is given on these languages.

* v
* t
* e

Primary language families

Africa|

* Afroasiatic
* Austronesian
* Khoe–Kwadi
* Kx'a
* Niger–Congo
* Nilo-Saharan?
* Tuu
* Mande?
* Songhay?
* Ijaw?
* Ubangian?
* Kadu?

| Isolates|

* Bangime
* Hadza
* Jalaa
* Sandawe
* Laal?
* Shabo?

|

Europe
and Asia|

* Afroasiatic
* Ainu
* Austroasiatic
* Austronesian
* Chukotko-Kamchatkan
* Dravidian
* Eskimo–Aleut
* Great Andamanese
* Hmong–Mien
* Hurro-Urartian
* Indo-European
* Japonic
* Kartvelian
* Koreanic
* Kra–Dai
* Mongolic
* Nivkh
* Northeast Caucasian
* Northwest Caucasian
* Ongan
* Sino-Tibetan
* Tungusic
* Turkic
* Tyrsenian
* Uralic
* Yeniseian
* Yukaghir
* Digaro?
* Hrusish?
* Kho-Bwa?
* Miju?
* Siangic?

| Isolates|

* Basque
* Burushaski
* Elamite
* Hattic
* Kusunda
* Nihali
* Sumerian

|

New Guinea
and the Pacific|

* Arai–Samaia
* Austronesian
* Binanderean–Goilalan
* Border
* Bulaka River
* Central Solomons
* Chimbu–Wahgi
* Doso–Turumsa
* East Geelvink Bay
* East New Britain
* East Strickland
* Eleman
* Engan
* Fas
* Kaure–Kosare
* Kiwaian
* Kutubuan
* Kwomtari
* Lakes Plain
* Lower Mamberamo
* Lower Sepik
* Madang
* Mairasi
* North Bougainville
* Pauwasi
* Ramu
* Senagi
* Sentani
* Sepik
* Skou
* South Bougainville
* Teberan
* Tor–Kwerba–Nimboran
* Torricelli
* Trans-Fly
* Trans–New Guinea
* Turama–Kikorian
* Upper Yuat
* West Papuan
* Yam
* Yawa
* Yuat
* Northwest Papuan?
* Papuan Gulf?

| Isolates|

* Abinomn
* Abun
* Anêm?
* Ata?
* Kol
* Kuot
* Maybrat
* Mpur
* Porome
* Taiap?
* Pawaia
* Porome
* Sulka?
* Tambora
* Wiru

|

Australia|

* Arnhem/Macro-Gunwinyguan?
* Bunuban
* Darwin Region?
* Eastern Daly
* Eastern Tasmanian
* Garawan
* Iwaidjan
* Jarrakan
* Marrku–Wurrugu?
* Mirndi
* Northern Tasmanian
* Northeastern Tasmanian
* Nyulnyulan
* Pama–Nyungan
* Southern Daly?
* Tangkic
* Wagaydyic
* Western Daly
* Western Tasmanian
* Worrorran
* Yangmanic (incl. Wagiman)?

| Isolates|

* Giimbiyu
* Malak-Malak (Northern Daly?)
* Tiwi

|

North
America|

* Algic
* Alsea
* Caddoan
* Chimakuan
* Chinookan
* Chumashan
* Comecrudan
* Coosan
* Eskimo–Aleut
* Iroquoian
* Kalapuyan
* Keresan
* Maiduan
* Muskogean
* Na-Dene
* Palaihnihan
* Plateau Penutian
* Pomoan
* Salishan
* Shastan
* Siouan
* Tanoan
* Tsimshianic
* Utian
* Uto-Aztecan
* Wakashan
* Wintuan
* Yukian
* Yuman–Cochimí

| Isolates|

* Chimariko
* Esselen
* Haida
* Karuk
* Kutenai
* Seri
* Siuslaw
* Takelma
* Timucua
* Waikuri
* Washo
* Yana
* Yokuts
* Yuchi
* Zuni

|

Mesoamerica|

* Chibchan
* Jicaquean
* Lencan
* Mayan
* Misumalpan
* Mixe–Zoque
* Oto-Manguean
* Tequistlatecan
* Totonacan
* Uto-Aztecan
* Xincan

| Isolates|

* Cuitlatec
* Huave
* Tarascan/Purépecha

|

South
America|

* Andoque–Urequena
* Arauan
* Araucanian
* Arawakan
* Arutani–Sape
* Aymaran
* Barbacoan
* Boran
* Cahuapanan
* Cariban
* Catacaoan
* Chapacuran
* Charruan
* Chibchan
* Choco
* Chonan
* Guaicuruan
* Guajiboan
* Harákmbut–Katukinan
* Jirajaran
* Jivaroan
* Katembri–Taruma
* Mascoian
* Matacoan
* Nadahup
* Nambikwaran
* Otomákoan
* Pano-Tacanan
* Peba–Yaguan
* Quechuan
* Piaroa–Saliban
* Ticuna–Yuri
* Timotean
* Tiniguan
* Tucanoan
* Tupian
* Uru–Chipaya
* Witotoan
* Yanomaman
* Zamucoan
* Zaparoan
* Bora–Witoto languages?
* Chimuan?
* Esmeralda–Yaruro?
* Hibito–Cholón?
* Lule–Vilela?
* Macro-Jê?
* Tequiraca–Canichana?

| Isolates
(extant in 2000)|

* Aikanã?
* Alacalufan
* Camsá
* Candoshi
* Chimane
* Chiquitano
* Cofán?
* Fulniô
* Guató
* Hodï/Joti
* Irantxe?
* Itonama
* Kunza
* Leco
* Maku-Auari of Roraima
* Movima
* Mura-Pirahã
* Nukak?
* Puinave
* Huaorani/Waorani
* Trumai
* Urarina
* Warao
* Yamana
* Yuracaré

|

Sign languages|

* Arab
* BANZSL
* Chinese
* Francosign
* Germanosign
* Indo-Pakistani
* Japanese
* Original Thai
* Swedish
* Tanzanian?

| Isolates|

* See list of sign languages

|

See also|

* Language isolates
* Unclassified languages
* Creoles
* Pidgins
* Mixed languages
* Artificial languages

* Families in italics have no living members.
* Families with more than 30 languages are in bold.

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