Japanese Sign Language

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A language of Japan

ISO 639-3
jsl
Alternate Names
Shuwa, Temane
Population

317,000 (Van Cleve 1986).

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Deaf sign language
Dialects

Related to Taiwanese [tss] and Korean [kvk] sign languages.

Language Use

Over 95% of the deaf understand Japanese Sign Language. 107 deaf schools. The first school opened in Kyoto in 1878.

Language Development
TV.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Japanese Sign Language
Writing
HamNoSys Notation.
Other Comments

‘Temane’ is the former name. Pidgin Signed Japanese is used often in formal situations, lectures, speeches. 80% of the deaf understand finger spelling.