Icelandic Sign Language
Icelandic Sign Language | |
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Íslenskt táknmál | |
Native to | Iceland |
Native speakers | 250–300 (2010–2014)[1] |
French Sign
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Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | icl |
Glottolog | icel1236 |
Icelandic Sign Language (
Icelandic Sign Language is distinct from
A lexical comparison of signs from Icelandic Sign Language with their counterparts in Danish Sign Language was undertaken to try to determine the degree of current lexical similarity. It was found that whilst the two sign languages are certainly related, 37% of signs analysed were completely different in structure and a further 16%, whilst similar, still contrasted in one of the four parameters of hand-configuration, location, movement or orientation.[2]
Geographic distribution
Icelandic sign language is used as a first language of deaf people in Iceland. The majority of the speakers live in Reykjavík and the surrounding areas.[3]
Recognition and status
In June 2011, Icelandic Sign Language was officially recognized as a first language. In No. 61/2011 under Article 3 it states that "Icelandic sign language is the first language of those who have to rely on it for expression and communication, and of their children. The government authorities shall nurture and support it. All those who need to use sign language shall have the opportunity to learn and use Icelandic sign language as soon as their
Article 5 of the Act also ensures that the government must promote all aspects of education and awareness in regards to Icelandic Sign Language.[3]
Article 7 appoints the Icelandic Sign Language Committee whose role it is to give advice to the government regarding the implementation of regulations for Icelandic Sign Language.[3]
Article 13 provides that all who need Icelandic Sign Language services will have access to them.[3]
Dialects
There are no geographical dialects of Icelandic Sign Language. However, generational variation has been attested. There is variation in the phonology, lexicon, morphology, and syntax between different generations.[4]
History and classification
Iceland was part of the Kingdom of Denmark until 1918. Icelandic Sign Language is part of the Danish Sign Language family.
Until the first Icelandic teacher,
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Manual alphabet
The manual alphabet used in Icelandic Sign Language is signed using one hand. The manual alphabet is used when a signer does not know the sign for something they are trying to express, or for things like names, street or place names, companies or abbreviations. [6]
Linguistics
Grammar
Icelandic Sign Language has somewhat variable
BIDD–LALLA distinction
ÍTM has two signs for the verb vera ('to be'), known as BIDD and LALLA. BIDD is used to describe permanent conditions, while LALLA is used for temporary conditions. This distinction is similar to the distinction between the Spanish and Portuguese verbs ser and estar.
Vocabulary
Research shows a high degree of intelligibility between Icelandic Sign Language and Danish Sign Language. The first Icelandic Sign Language dictionary published in 1976 lists 600–700 signs borrowed from Danish Sign Language and Swedish Sign Language.[4]
Phonology
There has been little research into Icelandic Sign Language's phonology.[4] SignWiki Ísland lists 35 different handshapes with seven places of articulation.[4][7]
Icelandic Sign Language has minimal pairs in all five of the sign parameters.[4] Some examples of minimal pairs in Icelandic Sign Language are the words father and grandfather which contrast with each other by handshape, do and teach which contrast by orientation, fun and sick which contrast by movement, mother and red which contrast by location, and finally sister and brother which contrast by non-manuals.[4]
Morphology
In order to mark the plural in personal pronouns in Icelandic Sign Language an arc is added to the index pointing from the singular sign.[4] Icelandic Sign Language has twenty-five agreement verbs; the features of agreement are motion of the hands or orientation of the hands or both. [4]
See also
References
- ^ Icelandic Sign Language at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- S2CID 145219047.
- ^ a b c d e "Act on the Status of the Icelandic Language and Icelandic Sign Language" (PDF). Parliament of the Republic of Iceland. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Kristín Lena Thorvaldsdóttir; Valgerður Stefánsdóttir (2015). Julie Bakken Jepsen; Goedele De Clerck; Sam Lutalo-Kiingi; William B. McGregor (eds.). Sign Languages of the World: A Comparative Handbook. Berlin/Boston: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 409–425.
- ^ Bergman, Brita; Engberg-Pedersen, Elisabeth. "Transmission of sign languages in the Nordic countries". In Brentari, Diane (ed.). Sign Languages. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ Sign Wiki island, Fingrastafrófið, 2011, [1]
- ^ "Handform í íslensku táknmáli". Sign Wiki island. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
External links
- (in Icelandic) Félag heyrnarlausra.
- (in English) Icelandic Association of the Deaf.
- (in Icelandic) SignWiki Íslands
- (in Icelandic) Language Committee of the Icelandic Sign Language Archived 2019-02-15 at the Wayback Machine