Swedish Sign Language

Official sign language of Sweden
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Swedish. (January 2015) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
  • Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia.
  • Consider adding a topic to this template: there are already 294 articles in the main category, and specifying|topic= will aid in categorization.
  • Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article.
  • You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Swedish Wikipedia article at [[:sv:Svenskt teckenspråk]]; see its history for attribution.
  • You should also add the template {{Translated|sv|Svenskt teckenspråk}} to the talk page.
  • For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.
Swedish Sign Language
Svenskt Teckenspråk
Native toSweden
Native speakers
13.000 (2023)[1]
Language family
Swedish Sign
  • Swedish Sign Language
Writing system
SignWriting[2]
Language codes
ISO 639-3swl
Glottologswed1236
ELPSwedish Sign Language
Coordinates: 59°21′00″N 18°04′00″E / 59.3500°N 18.0667°E / 59.3500; 18.0667, 64°00′00″N 26°00′00″E / 64.0000°N 26.0000°E / 64.0000; 26.0000
The Swedish Sign Language word for "part-time"

Swedish Sign Language (SSL; Svenskt teckenspråk) is the sign language used in Sweden. It is recognized by the Swedish government as the country's official sign language, and hearing parents of deaf individuals are entitled to access state-sponsored classes that facilitate their learning of SSL.[3] Swedish sign language is strongly linked to the culture of Sweden. There are around 13.000 native speakers and a total of 30.000 speakers. [1]

History

Swedish sign language first came into use in 1800. It does not stem from any other languages. In fact, this self-created language went on to influence Finnish Sign Language and Portuguese Sign Language. 1809 marks the year of the first deaf school, Manillaskolan, in Sweden. It was not until 1981 that Swedish Sign Language was recognized as a national language of Sweden.

Swedish Sign Language family tree
Swedish Sign Language
(c. 1800–present)
Portuguese Sign Language
(c. 1820–present)
Finnish Sign Language
(c. 1850–present)
Finland-Swedish Sign Language
(c. 1850–present)
Eritrean Sign Language
(c. 1950–present)


Hand alphabet

Pär Aron Borg is credited with creating the original hand alphabet in Swedish Sign Language. This handshape system served as a foundational reference for fingerspelling in Swedish Sign Language.

The hand alphabet in Swedish Sign Language has developed since Pär Aron Borg's original creation.

Pär Aron Borg's hand alphabet
Swedish sign language alphabet

Education and communication

Per the Education Act of 1998, deaf children are expected to be able to write in Swedish and English, in addition to expressing their thoughts in Swedish Sign Language. Thus, six state-run schools (one of which specializes in learning disabilities) have been established regionally for deaf children who cannot attend traditional comprehensive schools. Comprehensive and secondary schools in Sweden offer classes in addition to a one-year program to students to learn Swedish Sign Language as a third national language, as well as in hopes of becoming an interpreter. Interpreters are found in hospitals, and they also teach the language to the parents and siblings of deaf children. Sweden provides 240 hours of courses over four years to parents so that they may learn to communicate with their children. Additionally, weekly courses in the language are also available to the siblings of deaf children and the children of deaf parents.[4]

Expanding the culture of the deaf

Since the recognition of Swedish Sign Language as a national language of Sweden, the Swedish government has made available to deaf individuals television shows and news broadcasts in sign language. Subtitles in sign language are also increasing. On November 29, 2001, the first Bible was translated into Swedish Sign Language. Furthermore, the Health and Medical Service Act (1982) guaranteed interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in working life, leisure, and club activities.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Swedish Sign Language at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ^ SignPuddle 2.0. Signbank.org. Retrieved on 2013-10-29.
  3. ^ Haualand, Hilde; Holmström, Ingela (21 March 2019). "When language recognition and language shaming go hand in hand – sign language ideologies in Sweden and Norway". Deafness & Education International. 21 (2–3): 107. doi:10.1080/14643154.2018.1562636. hdl:10642/7861.
  4. ^ a b Timmermans, N., & C. (n.d.) (May 1, 2016). The Status of Sign Languages in Europe (PDF). ISBN 978-92-871-5723-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Further reading

  • Lyxell, Tommy. Se språket – barns tillgång till svenskt teckenspråk [See the language – children's access to Swedish Sign Language] (PDF) (Report). Rapporter från Språkrådet (in Swedish). Graphic design by Nyberg, Mikael. Cover image by Nyberg, Tora. Investigated by Spetz, Jennie. Swedish Language Council. ISBN 978-91-86959-14-2.

External links

  • Swedish Sign Language Interpretation of Måns Zelmerlöw's Song "Heroes"
  • Swedish Sign Language Alphabet
  • Swedish vs American Sign Language Alphabet
  • http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/7359
  • v
  • t
  • e
Official languageRecognized minority languagesSign languages
  • Swedish Sign Language
Other languages
  • v
  • t
  • e
National variants
Dialects
Use
History
Literature
Regulators
Dictionaries
Education
Related topics
  • v
  • t
  • e
Language
families[a]
Sign languages by family
Australian
Aboriginal
(multiple families)[c]
Western Desert
Zendath Kesign
Arab (Ishaaric)
Iraqi–
Levantine
Levantine
  • Jordanian
  • Lebanese
  • Palestinian
  • Syrian
Possible
BANZSL
Swedish Sign
Chinese Sign
Chilean-Paraguayan-
Uruguayan Sign
Paraguayan-
Uruguayan Sign
Francosign
American
(ASLic)
Indonesian (Nusantaric)
Francophone African
(Françafrosign)
  • Ethiopian
  • Chadian
  • Ghanaian
  • Guinean
  • Bamako (LaSiMa)
  • Moroccan
  • Nigerian
  • Sierra Leonean
Mixed, Hand Talk
  • Oneida (OSL)
Mixed, Hoailona ʻŌlelo
  • Creole Hawaiʻi Sign Language (CHSL)
Mixed, French (LSF)
Austro-
Hungarian
Russian Sign
Yugoslavic Sign
Dutch Sign
Italian Sign
Mexican Sign
Old Belgian
Danish (Tegnic)
Viet-Thai
German Sign
Indo-Pakistani
Sign
  • Bangalore-Madras
  • Beluchistan
  • Bengali
  • Bombay
  • Calcutta
  • Delhi
  • Nepali
  • North West Frontier Province
  • Punjab-Sindh
Japanese Sign
Kentish[c]
Mayan (Meemul Tziij)
  • Highland Maya
  • Yucatec
    • Chicán
    • Nohkop
    • Nohya
    • Trascorral
    • Cepeda Peraza
Original Thai Sign
Paget Gorman
Plains Sign Language
  • Anishinaabe
  • Apsáalooke
  • Arikara
  • Chaticks si Chaticks
  • Cheyenne
  • Coahuilteco
  • Dane-zaa
  • Diné
  • Hinono'eino
  • Hiraacá
  • Icāk
  • Karankawa
  • Liksiyu
  • Maagiadawa
  • Meciciya ka pekiskwakehk
  • Nakota
  • Ni Mii Puu
  • Niimíipuu
  • Niitsítapi
  • Nųmą́khų́·ki
  • Nʉmʉnʉʉ
  • Omaha
  • Palus
  • Piipaash
  • Ppáⁿkka
  • Schitsu'umsh
  • Shiwinna
  • Sioux
  • Taos
  • Tickanwa•tic
  • Tháumgá
  • Tsuu T'ina
  • Umatilla
  • Wazhazhe
  • Wichita
  • Wíyut'a / Wíblut'e
  • Wyandot
Mixed, American (ASL)
  • Oneida (OSL)
Plateau
  • A'aninin
  • Kalispel
  • Ktunaxa (ʾa·qanⱡiⱡⱡitnam)
  • Nesilextcl'n
  • Shuswap (Secwepemcékst)
  • Sqeliz
Providencia–
Cayman Sign
Isolates
Other groupings
By region[a]
Sign languages by region
Africa
Algeria
Algerian
Ghardaia
Cameroon
Maroua
Ghana
Adamorobe (AdaSL / Mumu kasa)
Nanabin
Ivory Coast
Bouakako (LaSiBo)
Kenya
Kenyan
Mali
Tebul
Bamako (LaSiMa)
Nigeria
Bura
Hausa (Magannar Hannu)
Senegal
Mbour
Somalia, Somaliland & Djibouti
Somali
South Africa
South African
Tanzania
Tanzanian
Uganda
Ugandan
Zambia
Zambian
Asia
Europe
Armenia
Armenian
Austria
Austrian
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani
Belgium
Flemish
French Belgian
United Kingdom
British
Croatia
Croatian
Denmark
Danish
Faroese (Teknmál)
Estonia
Estonian
Finland
Finnish
France
Ghardaia
French
Lyons
Germany
German
Greece
Greek
Hungary
Hungarian
Iceland
Icelandic
Ireland
Irish
Italy
Italian
Kosovo
Yugoslav (Kosovar)
Latvia
Latvian
Lithuania
Lithuanian
Moldova
Russian
Netherlands
Dutch
North Macedonia
Macedonian
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Norway
Norwegian
Poland
Polish
Portugal
Portuguese
Russia
Russian
Slovenia
Slovenian
Spain
Catalan
Spanish
Valencian
Sweden
Swedish
Switzerland
Swiss-German
Turkey
Central Taurus
Mardin
Turkish
Ukraine
Ukrainian
North and
Central
America
Plains Sign Talk
Belize
Belizean
Canada
American (ASL)
Black ASL
Protactile
Blackfoot
Cree
Ojibwa
Oneida
Maritime (MSL)
Quebec
Inuit (Atgangmuurniq)
Plateau
Cayman
Old Cayman
Costa Rica
Bribri
Brunca
Old Costa Rican
New Costa Rican
Cuba
Cuban
Greenland
Greenlandic (Ussersuataarneq)
Guatemala
Guatemalan
Mayan
Haiti
Haitian
Honduras
Honduran
Mexico
Albarradas
Chatino
Mayan
Mexican
Nicaragua
Nicaraguan
Panama
Chiriqui
Panamanian
El Salvador
Salvadoran
Old Salvadoran
United States
American (ASL)
Black ASL
Protactile
Blackfeet
Cree
Cheyenne
Ojibwa
Oneida
Keresan (Keresign)
Martha's Vineyard
Navajo
Navajo Family
Sandy River Valley
Henniker
Oceania
South America
Argentina
Argentine (LSA)
Bolivia
Bolivian
Brazil
Brazilian (Libras)
Cena
Ka'apor
Chile
Chilean
Colombia
Colombian
Provisle
Ecuador
Ecuadorian
Paraguay
Paraguayan
Peru
Peruvian
Sivia
Uruguay
Uruguayan
Venezuela
Venezuelan
International
ASL
Extinct
languages
Linguistics
Fingerspelling
Writing
Language
contact
Signed Oral
Languages
Others
Media
  • Films (list)
  • Television shows (list)
Persons
Organisations
Miscellaneous
^a Sign-language names reflect the region of origin. Natural sign languages are not related to the spoken language used in the same region. For example, French Sign Language originated in France, but is not related to French. Conversely, ASL and BSL both originated in English-speaking countries but are not related to each other; ASL however is related to French Sign Language.

^b Denotes the number (if known) of languages within the family. No further information is given on these languages.

^c Italics indicate extinct languages.