Swiss-Italian Sign Language
PrintPrimary tabs
A language of Switzerland
300 (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Ethnic population: 10,000 (2014 EUD). 10,000 deaf in all of Switzerland.
Scattered. Ticino and Graubünden cantons.
5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Federal Parliament, Law on Equality for Disabled People).
None known. Two main varieties: Lugano, Bellinzona (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Similar to Italian Sign Language [ise], especially to variants from Lombardy (2016 G. Harms). Variety used around Bellinzona influenced by sign languages of immigrants from the former Yugoslavia, Lithuania and Poland. (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010).
Fingerspelling: One-handed, similar to French Sign Language [fsl].
Deaf school has closed (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). Deaf association. Status of signing is increasing. Also use American Sign Language [ase], and other signed and written languages in Switzerland and surrounding countries (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010).
Taught as L2. 13,000 hearing signers (all three sign languages) in Switzerland, estimate based on participants in sign language classes (Boyes Braem and Rathmann 2010). 7 working sign language interpreters (2014 EUD). Christian.