Adamorobe Sign Language

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A language of Ghana

ISO 639-3
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Alternate Names
AdaSL
User Population

41 (Kusters 2012). Many of the approximately 3,500 hearing people in Adamorobe village also use Adamorobe Sign Language, to varying degrees of proficiency (Nyst 2007, Kusters 2012).

Location

Eastern region: Akuapim South municipal district, Adamorobe village.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sign language, Shared sign language
Language Use

Used in most village contexts by both deaf and hearing, but beginning to be replaced by Ghanaian SL [gse] in some domains, e.g. in church services (2019 M Edward). Used by all, deaf and many hearing. Also use Akan [aka], spoken by hearing people (Nyst 2007). Also use Ghanaian Sign Language [gse], as primary language among younger deaf, learned in a deaf boarding school (Nyst 2007). Used as L2 by Akan [aka].

Language Development

Grammar.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Adamorobe Sign Language
Other Comments

Incidence of deafness was as high as 11% in 1961, but had dropped to about 1% by 2012. A local law enacted in 1975 forbids deaf people from marrying each other (Kusters 2012). Beginning to show influence from Ghanaian Sign Language [gse], although younger signers exposed to GSL at school tend to be more successful at keeping the two languages distinct (2019 M Edward).