Swiss-French Sign Language
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A language of Switzerland
1,700 (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Estimated, less than 0.1% of total population of francophone Switzerland. 10,000 deaf signers in all of Switzerland (2014 EUD).
Scattered. Fribourg canton: Delémont, Morges, Oron, and Zion; Geneva and Vaud cantons; Neuchâtel canton: La Chaux-de-Fonds.
5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Federal Parliament, Law on Equality for Disabled People).
Regional lexical variation tied to specific schools: Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel, Fribourg and Sion (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Similar to French Sign Language [fsl] (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Local Swiss signs and imported French signs. Fingerspelling system similar to French Sign Language.
One-handed fingerspelling.
Taught in deaf schools. Deaf associations. Used by all. Positive attitudes, which are increasing. Also use American Sign Language [ase], and other signed and written languages in Switzerland and surrounding countries. Also use French [fra] (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Also use International Sign [ils].
Taught in primary schools. Bilingual education with French [fra] in Geneva, Fribourg, and Lausanne (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). TV. Theater. Videos. Dictionary. Agencies: Swiss Federation of the Deaf (SGB-FSS); Regionalkomitee Romandie.
French Sign Language [fsl] is used some in the French areas. Taught as L2. 13,000 hearing signers (all three sign languages) in Switzerland, estimate based on participants in sign language classes (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). 32 working sign language interpreters (2019 EUD). Christian.