Romanian Sign Language

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A language of Romania

ISO 639-3
rms
Alternate Names
LMGR, LSR, Limba semnelor române, Limbajul mimico-gestual romanesc, Limbajul semenelor romanesc
User Population

24,600 in Romania (2021 EUD). About 0.12% of total population. Other estimates: at least 20,000 deaf signers (Eberle et al 2015); 93,500 (2014 IMB).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

5 (Developing). Recognized language (2006, Legea nr. 448/2006), in the context of general disability legislation. Recognized language (2020, Decret nr. 213/2020, 2020-03-27), as the mother-tongue of Romanian deaf, from a linguistic/cultural perspective.

Classification
Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects

Variation exists between the regions of Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia. Further assessment needed. No known relationship to other sign languages (Eberle et al 2015).

Typology

One-handed fingerspelling.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Many also use Romanian [ron], with widely varying degrees of bilingualism (spoken and written). Some also use Hungarian Sign Language [hsh]. Used as L2 by Hungarian Sign Language [hsh].

Language Development

Romanian literacy for access to mainstream society and employment is valued. (Eberle et al 2015). TV. Videos. Dictionary. Agency: Associatia Nationala a Surzilor din Romania (ANSR).

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

Deaf schools. 12 working sign language interpreters (2019 EUD). Fingerspelling system similar to French Sign Language [fsl]. Earlier laws used the name ‘Limbajul mimico-gestual românesc’, while many deaf people preferred ‘Limbajul Semenelor Romanesc’. Now, a consensus seems to be developing on calling the language ‘Limba Semnelor Române (LSR)’, and this is the name used in the 2020 decree. Christian.

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