The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.
SIL code: FSL
ISO 639-2: sgn
| Population | 50,000 to 100,000 primary users in France (1986 Gallaudet Univ.) 1,000 users of Marseille Sign Language (1975 Sallagooty). Population total both countries 50,000 to 100,000. |
| Region | Southern FSL is used in Marseille, Toulon, La Ciotat, and Salon de Provence. Also spoken in Togo. |
| Alternate names | LANGUE DES SIGNES FRANÇAISE, LSF, FSL |
| Dialects | MARSEILLE SIGN LANGUAGE (SOUTHERN FRENCH SIGN LANGUAGE). |
| Classification | Deaf sign language. |
| Comments | Many sign languages have been influenced by this, but are not necessarily intelligible with it. Reported to be partially intelligible with sign languages from Austria, Czech Republic, and Italy, at least. 43% lexical similarity with American Sign Language in an 872-word list. First sign language in the western world to gain recognition as a language (1830). Originated in 1752. Sign languages were known in France in the 16th century, and probably earlier. Different from Signed French and Old French Sign Language. |
| Togo |
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