Algerian Sign Language

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A language of Algeria

ISO 639-3
asp
Alternate Names
LSA, Langue des signes algérienne, Lghh alesharh aljza’er
User Population

240,000 (2008 WFD). Federation National Des Sourds d’Algerie reports 240,000 deaf members (2008 WFD).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Classification
Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects

None known. Reported influence from Old French Sign Language (Abdelouafi 2018). LSA influenced the deaf community in Oujda in northern Morocco. Not the same as Unified Arabic Sign Language, an artificial system promoted by representatives of 18 Arabic-speaking countries (Rashdan 2016).

Language Development

Agency: Federation Nationale Des Sourds d’Algerie (FNSA).

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

300 sign language interpreters (2008 WFD), but no system of qualifications. Muslim.