Mongolian Sign Language

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A language of Mongolia

ISO 639-3
msr
Alternate Names
MSL
User Population

16,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 9,000–20,000 deaf signers, based on 0.3%–0.6% of total population.

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects

Lexical variation especially related to age and cohort at the deaf school, with relatively rapid rate of innovation (Geer 2012).

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Some also use Halh Mongolian [khk] (Geer 2012).

Language Development

Agency: Mongolian Sign Language Center (MSLC).

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

First deaf school established 1964 with aid from Russia, so Russian Sign Language [rsl] had early influence, but the two languages are now different. MSL is not used in the classroom, only by students outside class; rather instruction is in spoken Mongolian [khk] supplemented by fingerspelling (Geer 2011, Geer 2012).