Israeli Sign Language
PrintA language of Israel
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
ISL
Population
5,000 users including some hearing persons (Van Cleve 1986).
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Dialects
Not derived from and relatively little influenced by other sign languages. No special signs introduced from outside by educators. Minor dialect variation.
Language Use
Not all deaf use ISL. Interpreters provided in courts. Some interpretation for college students. Sign language instruction for parents of deaf children. Many sign language classes for hearing people. Committee on national sign language; organization for sign language teachers. Classroom sign language and that used by deaf adults outside are different.
Language Development
Films. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources
Writing
Eshkol-Wachmann movement notation system.
The first deaf school was established in Jerusalem in 1934. A fingerspelling system developed in 1976. Jewish.