Ghanaian Sign Language

A language of Ghana

ISO 639: gse
Alternate Names: GSL
Population: 152,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 91,000–182,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total population. Estimated 111,000 deaf people served by Ghana National Association of the Deaf (2019 GNAD).
Location:: Scattered.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects: None known. 50% intelligibility of ASL [ase] on a test in which ASL understood 80% (Hopkins 2013). Related to American Sign Language [ase] and Nigerian Sign Language [nsi]. Ghanaian Sign Language now differs from American Sign Language with new and local signs. Fingerspelling system similar to French Sign Language [fsl].
Typology: One-handed fingerspelling.
Language Use: 9 deaf schools. Primary schools for deaf children since 1957. Sign language interpreters required in court. Used by all. Used as L2 by Adamorobe Sign Language [ads].
Language Development: Dictionary. Bible portions: 2011–2014. Agency: Ghana National Association of the Deaf.
Other Comments: Developed out of American Sign Language (ASL) [ase], introduced by American educator Andrew Foster, but is now distinct. References to ASL in Ghana generally describe some form of Signed English, rather than standard ASL. Some sign language classes for hearing people. In addition to the well-known case of Adamorobe Sign Language [ads], a deaf family sign language is reported in Nanabin village (Blench and Nyst 2003).

Location: Scattered.