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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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: SFS
ISO 639-2: sgn
| Population | (12,100 deaf persons including 6,000 Black, 2,000 English white, 2,000 Afrikaans white, 1,200 Coloured, 900 Indian; 1986 Gallaudet Univ.) |
| Classification | Deaf sign language. |
| Comments | The North British sign system was used for the deaf in white English speaking families. In 1881 a school for Afrikaans speaking families was begun using British Sign Language. Several dialects are used unofficially in different schools. There are 9 sign language systems, 60% related to British or Australian sign languages, few to American Sign Language. Sign language is understood to some degree by most deaf people. Some interpreters are provided in courts. The first deaf school was established about 1846. Now there are 29 schools for 4,000 children. There is a Signed Afrikaans. |
