Hausa Sign Language

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
hsl
Alternate Names
HSL, Harshen bebaye na kasar Hausa, Maganar Bebaye, Maganar Hannu
User Population

20,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 12,000–24,000, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total Hausa population.

Location

Scattered in northern Nigeria, especially Kano state.

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects

Lexical variation based on age, region (urban vs. rural), and educational background. Borrowings from ASL [ase] and spoken Hausa [hau]. Some use of initialization, but no evidence of lexicalized fingerspelling. Distinct from Nigerian Sign Language [nsi], which is based on ASL (Schmaling 2015).

Typology

One-handed fingerspelling system based on ASL, with addition of non-dominant hand for representing glottalized consonants (Schmaling 2015).

Language Use

Used by all. Many also use Hausa [hau]. Varying levels of proficiency in Hausa (Schmaling 2015). Some also use American Sign Language [ase]. ASL vocabulary taught in schools (Schmaling 2015). Some also use English [eng]. Schools use English with a Total Communication policy (Schmaling 2015).

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar.

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

Originated among deaf people prior to living memory. Never taught through formal instruction but learned from parents or peers. Some late-deafened people use signs from HSL but follow the syntax of Hausa [hau]. Tudun Maliki School for the Deaf and Blind opened in Kano in 1977, and uses Total Communication with ASL, English and Hausa (Schmaling 2015).