Page Type: languageArgentine Sign Language | Ethnologue

AED ISO 639-3

Argentine Sign Language

A language of Argentina

ISO 639
aed
Alternate Names
LSA, Lengua de Señas Argentina
Population
60,000 (Caceres 2017).
Location:
Scattered. More than 50% in large cities (Massone 1995).
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects
Córdoba Sign Language, LSA puro, LSA. Some regional variation (e.g. between Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza), but most deaf people minimize the differences and strongly identify with one national sign language (2013 R. Caceres). Also variation by generation: an older variety called LSA Puro, which prefers OSV as its neutral word order, and a younger variety, called simply LSA, which is influenced by Spanish and prefers SVO (Caceres 2017). LSA Puro tends to be used primarily by people born before about 1955, although choice of dialect is also influenced by location, educational background, and language contact (2017 R. Caceres).
Typology
OSV (older variety), SVO (younger variety).
Language Use
Vigorous. Used by all. A few also use Spanish [spa]. Most Deaf are monolingual in LSA, having basic familiarity with Spanish but functionally illiterate (Massone 1995).
Language Development
Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Agency: Confederación Argentina de Sordos (CAS).
Other Comments
Deaf schools began in 1885. Historical relationship to Italian Sign Language [ise] (Zeshan et al 2013). 37 Deaf schools, some of which use LSA in class. Sign language stories and drama on film. A committee for a national sign language, and organizations for sign language teachers and interpreters.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Scattered. More than 50% in large cities (Massone 1995).