Swedish Sign Language family

Language family of sign languages

Swedish Sign Language family

East Scandinavian Sign
Geographic
distribution| Europe, Africa
Linguistic classification| ? British Sign

* Swedish Sign Language family

Subdivisions|

* Swedish Sign
* Portuguese Sign
* Finnish Sign
* Finland-Swedish Sign
* Eritrean Sign
* Cape Verdian Sign Language
* ? São Tomé and Príncipe Sign Language

Language codes
ISO 639-3| –
Glottolog| `swed1257`

Part of the Swedish Sign Language family

Secondarily influenced by the Swedish Sign Language family

The Swedish Sign Language family is a language family of sign languages, including Swedish Sign Language, Portuguese Sign Language, Cape Verdian Sign Language, Finnish Sign Language and Eritrean Sign (although going through the process of demissionization).[1]

Languages of the Swedish Sign Language family. However, Portuguese sign has also been reported to have been used in Angola.[2]

## History

[edit]

There is evidence of usage of signed languages in the Nordic countries from the 18th century, but the later 19th century political situation split the Nordic sign languages into two distinct language families, the Swedish Sign Language family and the Danish Sign Language family.[3]

## Relation to other Families

[edit]

Swedish SL started about 1800. Henri Wittmann proposes that it descends from British Sign Language. Regardless, Swedish SL in turn gave rise to Portuguese Sign Language (1823) and Finnish Sign Language (1850s), the latter with local admixture; Finnish and Swedish Sign are mutually unintelligible.[4] Anderson (1979) instead suggested that Swedish Sign, German Sign and British Sign share one origin in a "North-West European" sign language.[5]

Ethnologue reports that Danish Sign Language is largely mutually intelligible with Swedish Sign, though Wittmann places DSL in the French Sign Language family. There are no known dialects in the Swedish Sign Language, however, it is partly intelligible with other manual languages such as Danish (DSL), Norwegian (NSL), and Finnish (FSE).[6]

Although not directly related to the Guinea-Bissau Sign language, it has borrowed the alphabet from Portuguese sign.[7] Namibian Sign Language has also been influenced by Swedish Sign, because some deaf adults went into Sweden before becoming leaders in the deaf community in Namibia.[8]

It has also been reported that Tanzanian sign may have been influenced by Finnish and Swedish sign languages, although the evidence is not explicit.[9]

## Nordic Branch

[edit]

Carl-Oscar-Malm exported sign language to Finland.

Swedish Sign Language is the sign language used in Sweden. It is recognized by the Swedish government as the country's official sign language, and hearing parents of deaf individuals are entitled to access state-sponsored classes that facilitate their learning of SSL.[10] Swedish sign language is strongly linked to the culture of Sweden. There are around 13.000 native speakers and a total of 30.000 speakers. [1]

Finnish Sign Language can be traced back to the mid-1800s when Carl Oscar Malm, a Finnish deaf individual who had studied in Sweden, founded Finland's first school for the deaf in Porvoo in 1846. The Swedish sign language used by Malm spread among Finnish deaf individuals, evolving into its own language. The first association for the deaf in Finland was established in Turku in 1886. Albert Tallroth was involved in founding five different deaf associations and also the Finnish Association of the Deaf. By the late 1800s, oralism, or the speech method, began to be favored in the education of the deaf in Finland. This led to the prohibition of sign language in schools, even under threat of punishment. And as a result of oralism, Finnish Sign Language and Finnish-Swedish Sign Language began to diverge. Despite the ban, students in deaf schools continued to use sign language secretly in dormitories. The use of sign language persisted within the deaf community, while spoken language learned in school was used when interacting with hearing individuals.[11]

The Finland-Swedish Sign Language, also known as FinSSL, was created by the deaf community of Swedish backgrounds inhabiting the coastal areas of Finland. It is declared as an independent language given the connection to the Finland-Swedish culture.[12] Since 2015, Finland-Swedish and Finnish sign languages have been recognized as separate languages in Finnish legislation, as the new sign language act was adopted in the parliament. However, the scientific consensus has been since 2005 that the two sign languages are distinct.[13] Through contacts between Swedish deaf individuals and Finland-Swedish deaf individuals, the Finland-Swedish sign language has borrowed many words from Swedish sign language. Additionally, the visual phonology with facial expressions follows the sounds of the Swedish language.[14][15]

## Portuguese Branch

[edit]

Pär Aron Borg established Portuguese Sign

Portuguese Sign language (Portuguese: Língua gestual portuguesa) is a sign language used mainly by deaf people in Portugal. It is recognized in the present Constitution of Portugal.[16] It was significantly influenced by Swedish Sign Language, through a school for the Deaf that was established in Lisbon by Swedish educator Pär Aron Borg.[17][18] The Portuguese Sign Language has its origins from the Swedish Sign Language (LGS), as in the 19th century, the king called to Portugal Pär Aron Borg, a Swede who had founded an institute for the education of the deaf in Sweden. In 1823, the first school for the deaf was made in Portugal, and although the vocabulary of the Portuguese and Swedish sign languages have many differences from each other, the alphabet of the two languages shows their common origin.[19]

Cape Verdian Sign Language (Língua Gestual Caboverdiana)[20] is the sign language used by the deaf community in Cape Verde, numbering around 1500-4000. It is descended from Portuguese sign language and is mutually integible with it, although it contains some local adaptations.[21][22] In 2010, a school for children who are deaf was established in Cape Verde. Another deaf school was also established in Praia.[23]

Swedish Sign (right) and Portuguese Sign (left) alphabets compared

Some reports have said that LGSTP is similar to Portuguese Sign and that much of it is mutually integible with Portuguese Sign.[24] Additionally, although not directly related to Portuguese Sign, the Guinea-Bissau Sign Language has borrowed the alphabet from Portuguese Sign. [25]

It is also reported that Portuguese Sign has been also used in Angola.[2]

## Eritrean Sign

[edit]

Eritrean Sign Language also developed out of the Swedish and Finnish Sign Languages,[26] that were introduced by Swedish and Finnish Christian missionaries in 1955,[26] containing a certain amount of local Eritrean signs and having ASL-based Sudanese influences.[27] According to Moges 2011, 70% of the EriSL and Finnish signs are identical.[26] Since 2005, the Eritrean National Association of the Deaf has made linguistic purification attempts to replace Swedish and Finnish signs from the EriSL lexicon by 'Eritrean' ones in an effort to create a more distinct, "indigenous" language.[26] This process is referred to as 'demissionization'.[1]

Swedish Sign Language family tree

| | | | | | | Old British Sign Language?
(c. 1760–1900)| | |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Swedish Sign Language
(c. 1800–present)|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | Portuguese Sign Language
(c. 1820–present)| | Finnish Sign Language
(c. 1850–present)| | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Cape Verdian Sign Language
(c. 20th century–present)| | Finland-Swedish Sign Language
(c. 1850–present)| | Eritrean Sign Language
(c. 1950–present)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
São Tomé and Príncipe Sign Language?
(c. 21st century–present)| | | | | |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Moges, Rezenet Tsegay (2015). It's a Small World. International Deaf Spaces and Encounters. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press. pp. 114–125.114-125&rft.pub=Gallaudet+University+Press&rft.date=2015&rft.aulast=Moges&rft.aufirst=Rezenet+Tsegay&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Swedish+Sign+Language+family" class="Z3988">
2. ^ a b "Angola". African Sign Languages Resource Center. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
3. ^ "Signed languages in the Nordic countries". nordics.info. 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
4. ^ Wittmann, Henri (1991). "Classification linguistique des langues signées non vocalement" (PDF). Revue québécoise de linguistique théorique et appliquée (in French). 10 (1): 215–288\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 March 2023.215-288&rft.date=1991&rft.aulast=Wittmann&rft.aufirst=Henri&rft_id=http://www.nou-la.org/ling/1991a-class.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Swedish+Sign+Language+family" class="Z3988">
5. ^ Lucas, Ceil (2001-10-04). The Sociolinguistics of Sign Languages. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-79474-9.
6. ^ "Swedish Sign Language". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
7. ^ "República da Guiné-Bissau (Republic of Guinea-Bissau)". African Sign Languages Resource Center. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
8. ^ "Republic of Namibia". African Sign Languages Resource Center. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
9. ^ "United Republic of Tanzania". African Sign Languages Resource Center. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
10. ^ Haualand, Hilde; Holmström, Ingela (21 March 2019). "When language recognition and language shaming go hand in hand – sign language ideologies in Sweden and Norway". Deafness & Education International. 21 (2–3): 107. doi:10.1080/14643154.2018.1562636. hdl:10642/7861.2–3&rft.pages=107&rft.date=2019-03-21&rft_id=info:hdl/10642/7861&rft_id=info:doi/10.1080/14643154.2018.1562636&rft.aulast=Haualand&rft.aufirst=Hilde&rft.au=Holmström,+Ingela&rft_id=https://doi.org/10.1080%2F14643154.2018.1562636&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Swedish+Sign+Language+family" class="Z3988">
11. ^ Salmi, Eeva; Laakso, Mikko (2005). "Helsingin kokous". Maahan lämpimään, Suomen viittomakielisten historia. Kuurojen Liitto ry. p. 152\. ISBN 952-5396-30-4.
12. ^ Jepsen, Julie (2015). Sign Languages of the World: a Comparative Handbook. De Gruyter.
13. ^ "Finlandssvenskt teckenspråk och språkets revitalisering". Finlands Dövas Förbund (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-04-29.
14. ^ "Suomen viittomakielet". Kotimaisten kielten keskus (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-04-29.
15. ^ "Suomen kaksi viittomakieltä". Kielikello (in Finnish). 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
16. ^ Constitution of Portugal, Article 71 and 74
17. ^ Lucas, Ceil (2001). The Sociolinguistics of Sign Languages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 29\. ISBN 9780521794749. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
18. ^ Prawitz, J. "Pär Aron Borg - Svenskt Biografiskt Lexikon". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Retrieved 2022-03-16.
19. ^ Pinto, Mariana Correia (2017-11-14). "O que todos devíamos saber sobre língua gestual (em dez pontos)". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
20. ^ RTC. "Apresentado para validação, módulo formativo de língua gestual". My Application (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
21. ^ "Professoras da UFSM elaboram o primeiro dicionário de gestos voltado para a população surda de Cabo Verde". UFSM (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2019-12-23. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
22. ^ "Cape Verde". African Sign Languages Resource Center. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
23. ^ "Cape Verde". African Sign Languages Resource Center. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
24. ^ "Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe". African Sign Languages Resource Center. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
25. ^ "República da Guiné-Bissau (Republic of Guinea-Bissau)". African Sign Languages Resource Center. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
26. ^ a b c d Moges, Rezenet Tsegay (2015). It's a Small World. International Deaf Spaces and Encounters. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press. pp. 114–125.114-125&rft.pub=Gallaudet+University+Press&rft.date=2015&rft.aulast=Moges&rft.aufirst=Rezenet+Tsegay&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Swedish+Sign+Language+family" class="Z3988">
27. ^ Moges, Rezenet (January 2008). "Construction in Eritrean Sign Language". R. M. De Quadros (Ed.). Editora Arara Azul. Petrópolis/RJ. Brazil. California State University. Retrieved 1 May 2013.

* v
* t
* e

Primary language families

Africa|

* Afroasiatic
* Austronesian
* Khoe–Kwadi
* Kx'a
* Niger–Congo
* Nilo-Saharan(?)
* Tuu
* Dogon?
* Ijoid?
* Kadu?
* Katla?
* Kru?
* Lafofa?
* Mande?
* Rashad?
* Songhay?
* Talodi–Heiban?
* Ubangian?

Isolates|

* Bangime
* Gule
* Hadza
* Jalaa
* Sandawe
* Laal?
* Mimi of Decorse?
* Ongota?
* Shabo?

Eurasia
(Europe
and Asia)|

* Afroasiatic
* Ainu
* Austroasiatic
* Austronesian
* Chukotko-Kamchatkan
* Dravidian
* Eskaleut
* 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?
* Kho-Bwa?
* Mijiic?
* Miju?
* Siangic?

Isolates|

* Basque
* Burushaski
* Elamite
* Hattic
* Kusunda
* Nihali
* Rutulian
* Sumerian
* Vedda
* Eteocretan?
* Eteocypriot?
* Hruso?
* Kenaboi?
* Minoan?
* Puroik?
* Shompen?
* Tambora?

New Guinea
and the Pacific|

* Arai–Samaia
* Austronesian
* Binanderean–Goilalan
* Border
* Bulaka River
* Central Solomons
* Chimbu–Wahgi
* Demta–Sentani
* Doso–Turumsa
* East Geelvink Bay
* East New Britain
* East Strickland
* Eleman
* Engan
* Fas
* Foja Range
* Gogodala–Suki
* Hatam–Mansim
* Kaure–Kosare
* Kiwaian
* Kutubuan
* Lakes Plain
* Lower Mamberamo
* Lower Sepik
* Madang
* Mairasi
* Mantion–Meax
* North Bougainville
* North Halmahera
* Pauwasi
* Ramu
* Senagi
* Senu River
* Sepik
* Skou
* South Bougainville
* Teberan–Pawaian
* Torricelli
* Trans-Fly
* Trans–New Guinea
* Turama–Kikorian
* Upper Yuat
* West Bird's Head
* Yam
* Yawan
* Yuat
* Northwest Papuan?
* Papuan Gulf?
* West Papuan?

Isolates|

* Abinomn
* Abun
* Burmeso
* Kol
* Kuot
* Maybrat
* Mpur
* Porome
* Anêm?
* Ata?
* Sulka?
* Taiap?
* Tambora?
* Yele?

Australia|

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

Isolates|

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

North
America|

* Algic
* Caddoan
* Chimakuan
* Chinookan
* Chumashan
* Coosan
* Eskaleut
* Iroquoian
* Kalapuyan
* Maiduan
* Muskogean
* Na-Dene
* Pakawan
* Palaihnihan
* Plateau Penutian
* Pomoan
* Salishan
* Shastan
* Siouan
* Tanoan
* Tsimshianic
* Utian
* Uto-Aztecan
* Wakashan
* Wintuan
* Yuki–Wappo
* Yuman–Cochimí
* Coast Oregon Penutian?
* Yok-Utian?

Isolates|

* Alsea
* Atakapa
* Chimariko
* Esselen
* Haida
* Karuk
* Kutenai
* Salinan
* Seri
* Siuslaw
* Takelma
* Timucua
* Tonkawa
* Tunica
* Waikuri
* Washo
* Yana
* Yokuts
* Yuchi
* Zuni
* Chitimacha?
* Keres?
* Natchez?

Mesoamerica|

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

Isolates|

* Cuitlatec
* Huave
* Tarascan/Purépecha

South
America|

* Alacalufan
* Andoque–Urequena
* Araucanian
* Arawakan
* Arawan
* Arutani–Sape
* Aymaran
* Barbacoan
* Boran
* Cahuapanan
* Cañari–Puruhá
* Cariban
* Catacaoan
* Chapacuran
* Charruan
* Chibchan
* Choco
* Chonan
* Esmeralda–Yaruro
* Guaicuruan
* Guajiboan
* Harákmbut–Katukinan
* Hibito–Cholón
* Huarpean
* Jirajaran
* Jivaroan
* Katembri–Taruma
* Lule–Vilela
* Macro-Jê
* Mascoian
* Matacoan
* Nadahup
* Nambikwaran
* Otomákoan
* Pano-Tacanan
* Peba–Yaguan
* Piaroa–Saliban
* Puquina
* Quechuan
* Ticuna–Yuri
* Timotean
* Tiniguan
* Tucanoan
* Tupian
* Uru–Chipaya
* Witotoan
* Xukuruan
* Yanomaman
* Zamucoan
* Zaparoan
* Bora-Witoto?
* Bororoan?
* Chimuan?
* Kamakã?
* Kariri?
* Mataco–Guaicuru?
* Mosetén–Chon?
* Purian?
* Saparo–Yawan?
* Sechura–Catacao?
* Tequiraca–Canichana?
* Wamo–Chapakúra?
* Waroid?

Isolates|

* Camsá
* Candoshi-Shapra
* Canichana
* Cayubaba
* Chimane
* Cofán
* Guamo
* Hodï/Joti
* Irantxe
* Itonama
* Kanoê
* Kunza
* Kwaza
* Leco
* Maku (Maku-Auari/Jukude)
* Mochica
* Movima
* Mura-Pirahã
* Omurano
* Otí
* Páez
* Puinave
* Sechura
* Taushiro
* Tequiraca
* Trumai
* Urarina
* Waorani/Huaorani
* Warao
* Yahgan
* Yuracaré
* Aikanã?
* Betoi?
* Chiquitano?
* Fulniô?
* Guató?
* Kakwa?
* Munichi?
* Nukak?
* Sanavirón?

Sign
languages|

* Arab
* BANZSL
* Chinese
* Francosign
* Germanosign
* Indo-Pakistani
* Japanese
* Original Thai
* Swedish
* Paraguay–Uruguay?
* Providencia–Cayman?
* Sudanese?
* Tanzanian?

Isolates|

* See list of sign languages
* Village sign languages

See also|

* Constructed languages
* Creoles
* Language isolates
* Mixed languages
* Pidgins
* Spurious languages
* Unclassified languages
* Whistled languages

* Families with question marks (?) are disputed or controversial.
* Families in italics have no living members.
* Families with more than 30 languages are in bold.

* v
* t
* e

Sign language

* List of sign languages
* List by number of signers

Language
families[a]|

Sign languages by family

Australian
Aboriginal
(multiple families)[c]|

* Diyari
* Djingili
* Eltye eltyarrenke
* Iltyeme iltyeme
* Jaralde
* Kalkutungu
* Miriwoong
* Mudburra
* Pitha Pitha
* Rdaka rdaka
* Umpila
* Far North Queensland
* Warlmanpa
* Warluwara
* Warramunga
* Worora Kinship
* Yan-nhaŋu
* Yir Yoront
* Yolŋu

| Western Desert|

* Kartutjarra
* Manjiljarra
* Ngaatjatjarra

|

Zendath Kesign|

* Meriam
* Western Torres Strait Islander

Arab (Ishaaric)|

* Egyptian
* Kuwaiti
* Libyan
* Qatari Unified
* Yemeni

Iraqi–
Levantine|

* Iraqi

Levantine|

* Jordanian
* Lebanese
* Palestinian
* Syrian

Possible|

* Emirati
* Saudi
* Omani

Chinese Sign|

* Chinese (CSL/ZGS)
* Shanghai
* Hong Kong (HKSL)
* Macau

Chilean-Paraguayan-
Uruguayan Sign|

* Chilean (LSCh)

Paraguayan-
Uruguayan Sign|

* Paraguay (LSPY)
* Uruguay (LSU)

Francosign|

* Algerian (LSA)
* Swiss-German (DSGS)
* Estonian (Eesti viipekeel)
* Irish (ISL)
* Australian-Irish
* Brazilian (Libras)
* Lithuanian
* Catalan (LSC)
* Valencian (LSV)
* French (LSF)
* Old French[c]
* Romanian (LSR)

American
(ASLic)|

* American (ASL)
* Black ASL (BASL)
* Protactile
* Bolivian
* Burmese
* Yangon
* Mandalay
* Cambodian
* Costa Rican
* Dominican
* Jamaican
* Malaysian (BIM)
* Panamanian
* Filipino (FSL)
* Puerto Rican (PRSL)
* Singapore (SgSL)

Indonesian (Nusantaric)|

* Indonesian (Bisindo)
* Jakarta
* Yogyakarta

Francophone African
(Françafrosign)|

* Ethiopian
* Chadian
* Ghanaian
* Guinean
* Bamako (LaSiMa)
* Moroccan
* Nigerian
* Sierra Leonean

Mixed, Hand Talk|

* Oneida (OSL)

Mixed, Hoailona ʻŌlelo|

* Creole Hawaiʻi Sign Language (CHSL)

Mixed, French (LSF)|

* Greek (ΕΝΓ/ENG)
* Cypriot (ΚΝΓ/KNG)
* Quebec (LSQ)

Austro-
Hungarian|

* Czech (ČZJ)
* Hungarian (Magyar Jelnyev)
* Austrian (ÖGS)
* Slovak (SPJ)
* Ukrainian (УЖМ/USL)

Russian Sign|

* Azerbaijani (AİD)
* Bulgarian (БЖЕ)
* Georgian
* Kazakh-Russian (KSL/KRSL)
* Latvian (LSL)
* Mongolian
* Russian (РЖЯ)

Yugoslavic Sign|

* Croatian (HZJ)
* Kosovar
* Serbian
* Slovenian
* Yugoslav (YSL)

Dutch Sign|

* Dutch (NGT)
* Gambian

Italian Sign|

* Italian (LIS)
* Tunisian (TSL)

Mexican Sign|

* Mexican (LSM)
* Honduran (LESHO)

Old Belgian|

* Flemish (VGT)
* French Belgian (LSFB)

Danish (Tegnic)|

* Malagasy
* Icelandic (Táknmál)
* Norwegian (Tegnspråk)
* Danish (Tegnsprog)
* Teknmál

Viet-Thai|

* Hai Phong
* Hanoi
* Ho Chi Minh
* Thai (TSL/MSTSL)

Hand Talk|

* Great Basin
* Northeast
* Plains Sign Talk
* Southeast
* Southwest

Mixed, American (ASL)|

* Oneida (OSL)

Plateau|

* A'aninin
* Kalispel
* Ktunaxa (ʾa·qanⱡiⱡⱡitnam)
* Nesilextcl'n
* Shuswap (Secwepemcékst)
* Sqeliz

Indo-Pakistani
Sign|

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

Japanese Sign|

* Japanese (JSL/Nihon Shuwa)
* Korean (KSL/Hanguk Sueo)
* Taiwanese (TSL/Taiwan Shouyu)

Kentish[c]|

* Old Kentish
* Chilmark
* Martha's Vineyard (MVSL)

Maya (Meemul Tziij /
Meemul Ch'aab'al)|

* Highland Maya
* Yucatec
* Chicán
* Nohkop
* Nohya
* Trascorral
* Cepeda Peraza

NW Eurosign|

| BANZSL|

* Auslan
* Papua New Guinean (PNGSL)
* British (BSL)
* Northern Ireland (NISL)
* Fijian
* Maritime (MSL)
* New Zealand (NZSL)
* Samoan
* South African (SASL)

Swedish Sign|

* Eritrean (EriSL)
* Finland-Swedish (FinSSL)
* Portuguese (LGP)
* Swedish (Teckenspråk)
* Finnish (Viittomakieli)

German Sign|

* German (DGS)
* Polish (PJM)
* Israeli (Shassi)

Original Thai Sign|

* Chiangmai
* Hai Phong
* Old Bangkok

Paget Gorman|

* Namibian (NSL)

Providencia–
Cayman Sign|

* Providence Island (Provisle)
* Old Cayman (Guyanese)

Isolates|

* Afghan
* Al-Sayyid Bedouin (ABSL)
* Albanian (AlbSL)
* Albarradas Sign Language
* Alipur
* Argentine (LSA)
* Armenian
* Caucasian (Harsneren)[c]
* Belizean
* Bhutanese
* Tibetan (Bökyi lagda)
* Bribri
* Brunca
* Cena
* Chatino
* Cuban (LSC)
* Dogon/Douentza
* Ecuadorian (LSEC)
* Enga
* Ghandruk
* Ghardaia (AJSL)
* Guatemalan (Lensegua)
* Guinea-Bissau
* Henniker[c]
* Hawaiʻi (Hoailona ʻŌlelo)
* Creole HSL
* Inuit
* Inuit Uukturausingit (IUR)
* Greenlandic (Ussersuataarneq)
* Jhankot
* Jumla
* Ka'apor
* Kajana
* Kafr Qasim
* Kailge
* Kata Kolok
* Kenyan (KSL/LAK)
* Somali (SSL)
* Keresan Pueblo (KPISL/Keresign)
* Kisindo
* Jamaican Country (KS/Konchri Sain)
* Macedonian
* Maltese (LSM)
* Hausa (HSL/Magannar Hannu)
* Mardin
* Mauritian (MSL)
* M'bour
* Mehek
* Miyakubo Shuwa
* Burkina (Mossi)
* Mount Avejaha
* Mozambican
* Naga
* Navajo/Diné Family
* Nicaraguan (ISN)
* Old Costa Rican
* Orocovis (LSOR)
* Ottoman (Seraglio/Harem)
* Ban Khor (Pasa kidd)
* Penang
* Persian
* Peruvian (LSP)
* Inmaculada
* Qahveh Khaneh
* Rennellese[c]
* Rossel Island
* Rwandan (AKR/AMR)
* Sandy River Valley[c]
* Salvadoran (LESSA)
* Sawmill
* Sinasina (SSSL)
* Sivia
* Spanish (LSE)
* Tebul
* Trinidad and Tobago (TTSL)
* Turkish (TİD)
* Ugandan (USL)
* Venezuelan (LSV/VSL)
* Wanib
* West African
* Adamorobe (AdaSL/Mumu kasa)
* Bura (Burasl)
* Mofu-Gudur
* Nanabin (NanabinSL)
* Yoruban (YSL)
* Zambian (ZSL)

Other groupings|

* Amami Shuwa languages
* Ethiopian languages
* Laotian languages
* Sri Lankan languages
* Sudanese languages (~150)[b]
* Tanzanian languages (7+)[b]
* Zimsign languages

* International Sign
* Village languages

By region[a]|

Sign languages by region

Africa|

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

Asia|

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

Europe|

Armenia
Armenian
Austria
Austrian
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani
Belgium
Flemish
French Belgian
United Kingdom
British
Croatia
Croatian
Denmark
Danish
Faroese (Teknmál)
Estonia
Estonian
Finland
Finnish
France
Ghardaia
French
Lyons
Germany
German
Greece
Greek
Hungary
Hungarian
Iceland
Icelandic
Ireland
Irish
Italy
Italian
Kosovo
Yugoslav (Kosovar)
Latvia
Latvian
Lithuania
Lithuanian
Moldova
Russian
Netherlands
Dutch
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-German
Turkey
Central Taurus
Mardin
Turkish
Ukraine
Ukrainian

North and
Central
America|

Belize
Belizean
Canada
American (ASL)

Black ASL
Protactile
Hand Talk

Oneida (OSL)
Plateau
Inuit (IUR)
Maritime (MSL)
Sawmill
Quebec
Cayman
Old Cayman
Costa Rica
Bribri
Brunca
Old Costa Rican
New Costa Rican
Cuba
Cuban
Greenland
Greenlandic (Ussersuataarneq)
Guatemala
Guatemalan
Mayan
Haiti
Haitian
Honduras
Honduran
Mexico
Albarradas
Chatino
Mayan
Mexican
Nicaragua
Nicaraguan
Panama
Chiriqui
Panamanian
Puerto Rico (USA)
American (ASL)

Puerto Rican
Orocovis
El Salvador
Salvadoran (LESSO)
Old Salvadoran
United States
American (ASL)

Black ASL
Protactile
Hand Talk

Oneida (OSL)
Plateau
Henniker
Keresan (Keresign)
Martha's Vineyard
Navajo Family
Sandy River Valley
Sawmill

Oceania|

Australia
Akitiri (Eltye eltyarrenke)
Arrernte (Iltyeme iltyeme)
Auslan
Australian-Irish
Manjiljarra
Mudbura (Mudburra)
Ngada
Umpila

Far North Queensland
Warlmanpa
Warlpiri (Rdaka rdaka)
Warumungu (Warramunga)
Western Desert
Western Torres Strait Islander
Yir Yoront
Yolŋu
Hawaii (USA)
Hawaiʻan (Haoilona ʻŌlelo)
New Zealand
New Zealand (NZSL)
Papua New Guinea
Enga
Kailge
Mehek
Mount Avejaha
Papua New Guinean (PNGSL)
Rossel Island
Sinasina
Wanib
Samoa and American Samoa
Samoan

South America|

Argentina
Argentine (LSA)
Bolivia
Bolivian
Brazil
Brazilian (Libras)
Cena
Ka'apor
Chile
Chilean
Colombia
Colombian
Provisle
Ecuador
Ecuadorian
Paraguay
Paraguayan
Peru
Inmaculada
Peruvian
Sivia
Uruguay
Uruguayan
Venezuela
Venezuelan

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
* Phonology (ASL)
* Handshape / Location / Orientation / Movement / Expression
* Mouthing
* Nonmanual feature
* Sign names
* Home sign

Fingerspelling|

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

Writing|

* ASL-phabet
* Hamburg Notation System
* Stokoe notation
* SignWriting
* si5s
* ASLwrite ()

Language
contact|

* Contact sign
* Initialized sign
* Mouthing

Signed Oral
Languages|

* Indian Signing System
* Manually coded English
* Manually coded language in South Africa
* Manually Coded Malay
* Paget Gorman Sign System
* Signed Dutch
* Signed French
* Signed German
* Signed Italian
* Signed Japanese
* Signed Polish
* Signed Spanish
* Signing Exact English
* Signed Swedish

Others|

* Bilingual–bicultural education
* Manually coded language

Media|

* Films (list)
* Television shows (list)

Persons|

* Jabbar Baghtcheban
* Jeanette Berglind
* Pär Aron Borg
* Thomas Braidwood
* Laurent Clerc
* Abbé de l'Épée
* Roger Fouts
* Valerie Sutton
* Thomas Gallaudet
* Abbé 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
* U.S. Army hand and arm signals
* Monastic sign languages
* Tactile signing
* Protactile
* Tic-tac

^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.

^c Italics indicate extinct languages.

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