Thai Sign Language
A language of Thailand
| Population | 51,000 profoundly, prelingually deaf people in Thailand (1997 C.Reilly). 20% of deaf children go to school, where they get the opportunity to learn this language. |
| Region | Major regional centers and Bangkok. |
| Dialects | The first deaf school was established in 1951, with influence from Gallaudet University in the USA. Uses a combination of indigenous signs and American Sign Language [ase]. Before 1950, Chiang Mai and Bangkok had their own separate but related sign languages, and probably other urban areas had their own sign languages, related to present sign languages in parts of Laos and Viet Nam, including Haiphong. The signs used at the deaf school at Tak are reported to be very different. |
| Classification | Deaf sign language |
| Language use | Total communication used in school: speaking and signing. Reportedly high mobility among most deaf people today. Sign language used in the classroom and that used by deaf adults outside is different. All deaf born since 1951; some older ones. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L2: Fewer than 10%. Educated deaf people have limited Thai literacy skills. Taught in primary schools. TV. Dictionary. |
| Comments | There is a manual system for spelling. Buddhist. |
Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:
Academic Publications
HURLBUT, Hope M., author. 2009. "Thai signed languages survey—a rapid appraisal."
Ethnologue: Web |
Ethnologue: Print |
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Bibliography data last updated: April-2012
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