Kufr Qassem Sign Language
PrintPrimary tabs
Mouthing in Kufr Qassem deaf community
A recent study (Jaraisy 2021) has shown that mouthing is not a prominent feature in KQSL. In Jaraisy (2021), participants from the first and second-generation mouthed in only 8% of the signs produced. In addition, a follow-up study within the same larger study (Jaraisy 2021) has shown that third-generation deaf signers in the Kufr Qassem deaf community change their mouthing patterns and frequency when they use KQSL or communicate with a KQSL user from the second generation. That is, their mouthing decreases when they switch to KQSL (regardless of the interlocuter - meaning that when even when they use KQSL with an ISL signer, their mouthing frequency decreases), and when they communicate with a KQSL signer from the second generation (regardless of the language - meaning that even when they use ISL with this interlocuter, their mouthing decreases)
We will incorporate a summary of this information on Kufr Qassem Sign Language [sqx] into the Ethnologue database, to be included in the next edition of the Ethnologue.
No evidence of a fingerspelling system in KQSL
Thus far, there appears to be no fingerspelling system in KQSL, and members of the community use the ISL fingerspelling if needed.
This is not surprising, as most if not all members of the first generation did not attend school, and therefore had no access to written language(s).
We will incorporate We will incorporate a summary of this information on Kufr Qassem Sign Language [sqx] into the Ethnologue database, to be included in the next edition of the Ethnologue.
Language use among the third generation
Many of the third-generation deaf members of the community are considered sign-bilinguals in KQSL and ISL. However, a recent study (Jaraisy, 2021) has shown that this generation prefers using ISL in many of their daily interactions. This indicated an extreme language shift in the community which further negatively affects the endangered status of KQSL.
We will update the EGIDS and speaker age range information for Kufr Qassem Sign Language [sqx] in Israel, for inclusion in the next edition of the Ethnologue.