Portuguese Sign Language
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A language of Portugal
10,000 in Portugal (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). About 0.1% of total population. Other estimates: 52,000 (2014 IMB); 60,000 (2021 EUD). Used by many of 8,000 deaf persons (Van Cleve 1986). Total users in all countries: 10,550.
Scattered, including Azores and Madeira islands.
5 (Developing). Recognized language (1997, Constitution, Article 74(2h)).
Lisbon, Oporto. Historical influence from Swedish Sign Language [swl]. Older signers attended separate schools for boys and girls in Lisbon and Oporto, resulting in some variation by gender and region. (Van Cleve 1986) These differences have largely disappeared in younger signers. No apparent relationship to Spanish sign language, based on a lexical comparison of non-iconic signs. (Eberle and Eberle 2012).
One-handed fingerspelling.
Used by all. Also use Portuguese [por], with widely varying degrees of bilingualism (spoken and written), and it is valued as a written language for access to mainstream society and employment.
Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Agency: Portuguese Federation of Associations of the Deaf (FPAR).
Fingerspelling system shows many differences from other European countries. 100 working sign language interpreters (2019 EUD). Taught as L2 at the university level. Christian.