Australian Aborigines Sign Language
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A language of Australia
ISO 639-3
Location
Southern Australia, central, and west desert regions, coastal Arnhem Land; north coast islands, Torres Strait islands, west side of Cape York peninsula.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Dialects
None known. Not related to Australian Sign Language [asf].
Language Use
Used by hearing Aborigines as alternate form of communication with speakers of other languages. Other non-deaf “alternate” sign languages used by some groups, such as Aranda, Warlpiri, Warumungu, during periods of mourning or hunting. Several such alternate sign languages are also used by deaf persons.
Language Resources