Page Type: languageFrench Sign Language | Ethnologue

FSL ISO 639-3

French Sign Language

A language of France

ISO 639
fsl
Alternate Names
LSF, Langue des signes française
Population
100,000 in France (2019 Fédération Nationale des Sourds de France). Approximately 0.15% of the total population. Other estimates: 80,000 (1998 D. Gillot), 119,000 deaf signers (2010 Association Française des Interprètes en Language des Signes), 169,000 deaf (2014 IMB), 300,000 (2019 EUD). Approximately 1,000 use the southern variety, called Marseille Sign Language (Sallagoity 1975). Total users in all countries: 103,405.
Location:
Scattered.
Language Status
5 (Developing). Recognized language (2005, Code de l’éducation, Partie législative, Deuxième partie, Livre III, Titre 1er, Chapitre II, Article L312-9-1, Section 3 bis), Recognized as a complete language for use in education.
Classification
Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects
Marseille Sign Language (Southern French Sign Language). Marseille Sign Language (Southern French Sign Language), is used in Marseille, Toulon, La Ciotat and Salon de Provence. Many sign languages have been derived from or influenced by LSF, but are not necessarily intelligible with it. When Deaf and hearing people interact in sign, they use a mixture of elements drawn from LSF and French, and Deaf people themselves vary in how much their signing is influenced by French. Lexical similarity: 58% with American Sign Language [ase] in an 872-word list (Woodward 1978a).
Typology
One-handed fingerspelling.
Language Use
Vigorous. Used by all. Also use French [fra].
Language Development
TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 2011. Agency: National Federation for the Deaf of France (FNSF).
Other Comments
Promoted by the educational efforts of Charles Michel de l’Épée in the 18th century and one of the first sign languages in the western world to gain recognition as an actual language. Consequently it has influenced many other sign languages, especially in Europe and the Americas. 400 working sign language interpreters (2019 EUD). Taught as an L2 to parents and others. Deaf schools. Deaf associations. 4 universities with interpreter training (2010 Association Française des Interprètes en Langue des Signes). Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
French Sign Language
User Population
300 in French Guiana (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated, assuming 0.1% of total population.
Location
Scattered.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of French Guiana
Language Name
French Sign Language
User Population
2,000 in Guadeloupe (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 1,200–2,400 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of the total population. Another estimate: 3,520 deaf, based on a reported 0.8% incidence of significant hearing loss (Parks and Williams 2011:24).
Location
Scattered.
Language Status
5 (Developing)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Guadeloupe
Language Name
French Sign Language
User Population
1,100 in Martinique (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 750–1,500 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Another estimate: 400–3,200 (Parks and Williams 2011).
Location
Scattered.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Martinique

Map

Location: Scattered.