Catalan Sign Language

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A language of Spain

Alternate Names
CSL, Catalonian Sign Language, LSC, Lengua de Señas Catalana, Lengua de Signos Catalana, Llengua de Signes Catalana, Llenguatge de signes
User Population

25,000 (Jarque et al 2019), all users. Estimate for deaf and hearing cited from 2010 Federació de Persones Sordes de Catalunya. L1 users: 12,000 (Jarque et al 2019). Estimate cited from 2010 Federació de Persones Sordes de Catalunya. Total deaf sign signers for all three sign languages in Spain: 60,000–80,000 (2000 Instituto Nacional de Estadística), 100,000 (2019 EUD).

Location

Scattered in Catalonia.

Language Status

6b (Threatened). Provincially recognized language in Catalonia Autonomous Community (2006, Basic Law No. 6 of 19 July). Provincially recognized language in Balearic Islands Autonomous Community (1985, Autonomy Act, No. 2, 1985, Article 3(2)). Provincially recognized language in Catalonia Autonomous Community (2010, Law 17/2010, DOGC 5647, 10-6-2010). Recognized language (2007, Law 27/2007, Official language of the deaf Community).

Dialects

None known. Similar to Spanish Sign Language [ssp] and Valencian Sign Language [vsv]. About 70%–80% intelligibility by users of Spanish Sign Language (2014 S. Parkhurst).

Typology

Fingerspelling: One-handed, similar to French Sign Language [fsl].

Language Use

Deaf schools, plus many deaf children integrated in hearing schools, with widespread oralist emphasis. Many young adults arrive at deaf associations not knowing how to sign. Deaf who have travelled tend to understand the other sign languages in Spain but use their own. (2017 S. Parkhurst). Some young people, all adults. Some young people, more widespread among deaf adults. Some also use Catalan [cat]. Some also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

TV. Theater. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2008–2021. Agencies: Direcció General de Política Lingüística (DGPL); Federació de Persones Sordes de Catalunya (FESOCA).

Other Comments

Many sign language classes for hearing people. Materials for learning as L2. Few parents actually learn to sign. (2014 S. Parkhurst). Christian.