Page Type: languageDanish Sign Language | Ethnologue

DSL ISO 639-3

Danish Sign Language

A language of Denmark

ISO 639
dsl
Alternate Names
DTS, Dansk tegnsprog
Population
16,000 in Denmark, all users. L1 users: 6,000 in Denmark (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated assuming 0.1% of the total population. Other estimates: 4,000 (2014 EUD), 5,000 (Bergman and Engberg-Pedersen 2010), 24,500 (2014 IMB). L2 users: 10,000 (McGregor et al 2015). Total users in all countries: 16,110 (as L1: 6,110; as L2: 10,000).
Location:
Scattered.
Language Status
5 (Developing). Recognized language (2015, Law 61, amendment to Danish Language Council).
Classification
Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects
None known. Also in Faroe Islands, Greenland (2014 J. Zachariassen, Aldersson and McEntee-Atalianis 2007). Partial intelligibility between Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Iceland (McGregor et al 2015:197). Some signs are related to French Sign Language [fsl]. Intelligible with Swedish [swl] and Norwegian [nsl] sign languages with only moderate difficulty. Not intelligible with Finnish Sign Language [fse]. Signed Danish is distinct, but used in communication with some hearing people.
Typology
One-handed fingerspelling.
Language Use
Vigorous. First deaf school began in 1807. Used in all 6 state primary schools for the deaf. Interpreters are required in court, and may be used at important public events, in job training, social services, and mental health programs. Used by all. Also use Danish [dan].
Language Development
TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2013. Agency: Danish Deaf Association (DDL).
Other Comments
Fingerspelling system similar to French Sign Language [fsl]. Organization for sign language teachers. Instruction provided for parents of deaf children and other hearing people. 400 working sign language interpreters (2019 EUD). Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Danish Sign Language
User Population
50 in Faroe Islands (2020 A. Bickford). Estimated assuming 0.1% of the general population.
Location
Scattered.
Dialects
None known. Intelligibility between the Faroes and Denmark is reported to be partial, and signers may regard them as separate languages (McGregor et al 2015:197).
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Faroe Islands
Language Name
Danish Sign Language
User Population
60 in Greenland (2020 A. Bickford). Estimated based on 0.1% of the general population.
Location
Scattered.
Dialects
None known. Intelligibility between Greenland and Denmark is reported to be partial, and signers may regard them as separate languages (McGregor et al 2015:197).
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Greenland

Map

Location: Scattered.