Kufr Qassem Sign Language

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A language of Israel

ISO 639-3
sqx
Alternate Names
KQSL, Kafr Qassem Sign Language, Kafr Qassim Sign Language, Kfar Qassem Sign Language, Kfar Qassim Sign Language
User Population

50 (2020 R. Stamp). All monolingual users are over 40 years old (2020 R. Stamp).

Location

HaMerkaz district: Kufr Qassem (Kafr Qasim) city.

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Sign language, Shared sign language
Dialects

None known. Only an overlap of 15% and 19% for lexical signs in Israeli Sign Language [isr] and Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language [syy], respectively (Kastner et al 2014).

Language Use

KQSL is used in informal and local settings - deaf club, in deaf homes, also used by some hearing people who have deaf relatives (2020 R. Stamp). Home and local contexts. Some young people, all adults. Recent studies have shown a dramatic shift among younger users from KQSL to Israeli Sign Language (ISL) [isr], with a more subtle shift among older monolingual users toward ISL (2020 R. Stamp). Also use Israeli Sign Language [isr], especially those under 40 years of age.

Language Development

Dictionary.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kufr Qassem Sign Language
Other Comments

A deaf community center was opened in Kafr Qasim in 1995, serving as a cornerstone for the deaf community to come together and share experiences, knowledge and enjoyment (2020 R. Stamp).