Cambodian Sign Language

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A language of Cambodia

ISO 639-3
csx
Alternate Names
CBDSL, CSL, Cambodia Sign Language, KSL, Khmer Sign Language
User Population

7,500 (Woodward et al 2015c). Estimated 1,500 deaf signers up to possibly 13,000 (Woodward et al 2015c:160).

Location

Scattered, mostly in and around Phnom Penh.

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects

None known. Cambodian Sign Language is also distinct from a modified version of American Sign Language (ASL) [ase] that follows Khmer word order, which is used in most formal deaf education programs in Cambodia. Mutual intelligibility with ASL is low, and what understanding is possible depends on vocabulary that is shared by Cambodian Sign Language, Thai Sign Language [tsq] and ASL, and by iconic elements that are commonly found in all natural sign languages (2020 J. Woodward). Lexical similarity: 42% lexical similarity in basic vocabulary with Thai Sign Language [tsq].

Language Use

Vigorous. Informal use in schools for adults operated by the Maryknoll Deaf Development Program. Formal education uses a modified version of American Sign language [ase] that follows Khmer [khm] word order (2020 J. Woodward). Used by all.

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

A deaf school in Siem Reap, with about 150–200 students, reportedly signs quite differently from Phnom Penh, but no formal comparison has been done (2020 C. Wallace).