Spanish Sign language
Encyclopedia
Spanish Sign Language is a sign language
used mainly by deaf people in Spain
and the people who live with them.
There are small differences throughout Spain with no difficulties in intercommunication, except in Catalonia
(Catalan Sign language
) and in Valencia
(Valencian Sign language
). Some linguists consider both these and the Spanish Sign language three variants of a polymorphic signed language.
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
used mainly by deaf people in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the people who live with them.
There are small differences throughout Spain with no difficulties in intercommunication, except in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
(Catalan Sign language
Catalan Sign Language
Catalan Sign Language is a sign language used by 18,000 signers in Catalonia. About 50% intelligibility by users of Spanish Sign Language.Since 1994, it has an official status thanks to a law to promote and diffuse the language promulgated by Generalitat de Catalunya...
) and in Valencia
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
(Valencian Sign language
Valencian Sign Language
Valencian Sign Language is a sign language used by deaf people in the Valencian Community, Spain. Some linguists consider LSV, Spanish Sign Language and Catalan Sign Language as variants related to a language group, while others believe it is a dialect of the latter...
). Some linguists consider both these and the Spanish Sign language three variants of a polymorphic signed language.