Russian Sign Language

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A language of Russian Federation

ISO 639-3
rsl
Population

121,000 in Russian Federation (2010 census).

Location

Moscow and Saint Petersburg are major centers. Widespread with significant dialect variation. Also in Bulgaria.

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Deaf sign language
Dialects

Reported historical connections to sign languages in Austria and France, but not obvious from extensive wordlist comparison (Bickford 2005). Very similar to sign languages in Ukraine and Moldova. Internal dialect variation appears significant but needs further survey.

Language Use

Deaf associations and athletic clubs. Signed interpretation required in court and used at important public events. Many sign language classes for hearing people. Organization for sign language teachers. Hundreds of residential schools for deaf in the Russian Federation; some vocational schools, mainly oralist.

Language Development
Primary schools for deaf children since 1878. Films. TV. Videos. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Russian Sign Language
Other Comments

First school for the deaf opened at Pavlovsk near St. Petersburg in 1806. There is a manual system for spelling.

Also spoken in:

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