Filipino Sign Language
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A language of Philippines
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
FSL, Local Sign Language, Philippine Sign Language
Population
100,000 deaf persons (Van Cleve 1986).
Location
Scattered.
Language Status
5 (Developing). Recognized language (2018, Republic Act, No. 11106), Recognized as the national sign language of the deaf and with a mandate for use in schools, broadcast media, and workplaces.
Classification
Language Use
Total communication used in deaf schools, with teachers both speaking and signing. Used by all. Many also use American Sign Language [ase].
Language Resources
Writing
Unwritten documents [Zxxx].
Filipino Sign Language and American Sign Language (ASL) [ase], which was introduced especially by the US Peace Corps, are very similar but generally regarded by Deaf people in the Philippines as distinct languages. Both are in use as a normal means of communication, with a lot of bilingualism. Different deaf schools prefer different languages.