German Sign Language
PrintA language of Germany
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Deutsche Gebärdensprache, Dgs
Population
50,000 (Van Cleve 1986). 22,000 members of German Deaf Association.
Location
West.
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Dialects
Many regional lexical variations. Some similarity to French [fsl] and other European sign languages. Relation to sign languages of eastern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland is not known. More than one sign language used in eastern Germany.
Language Development
Bible portions: 1998.
Language Resources
Writing
HamNoSys Notation. SignWriting.