Adamorobe Sign Language

A language of Ghana

ISO 639: ads
Alternate Names: AdaSL
Population: 41 (Kusters 2012). Many of the approximately 3,500 hearing people in Adamorobe village also use Adamorobe Sign Language, to varying degrees of proficiency (Nyst 2007, Kusters 2012).
Location:: Eastern region: Akuapim South municipal district, Adamorobe village.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Sign language, Shared sign language
Language Use: Used in most village contexts by both deaf and hearing, but beginning to be replaced by Ghanaian SL [gse] in some domains, e.g. in church services (2019 M Edward). Used by all, deaf and many hearing. Also use Akan [aka], spoken by hearing people (Nyst 2007). Also use Ghanaian Sign Language [gse], as primary language among younger deaf, learned in a deaf boarding school (Nyst 2007). Used as L2 by Akan [aka].
Language Development: Grammar.
Other Comments: Incidence of deafness was as high as 11% in 1961, but had dropped to about 1% by 2012. A local law enacted in 1975 forbids deaf people from marrying each other (Kusters 2012). Beginning to show influence from Ghanaian Sign Language [gse], although younger signers exposed to GSL at school tend to be more successful at keeping the two languages distinct (2019 M Edward).

Location: Eastern region: Akuapim South municipal district, Adamorobe village.