Greek Sign Language

A language of Greece

ISO 639: gss
Alternate Names: Elleniké Noematiké Glossa, GSL
Population: 11,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 11,000 signing deaf, assuming 0.1% of total population. Other estimates: 5,000 (2019 EUD); 42,600 (Van Cleve 1986); 62,500 (2014 IMB).
Location:: Scattered.
Language Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2000, Law 2817, Official language of deaf community).
Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects: None known. Fingerspelling system similar to French Sign Language [fsl].
Typology: One-handed fingerspelling (Greek script).
Language Use: School. Deaf associations. 12,000 children and 30,000 active adult users (1996).
Language Development: TV. Theater. Videos. Dictionary. Agency: Hellenic Federation of the Deaf (HFD).
Other Comments: 50 working sign language interpreters (2019 EUD). Many L2 users. L2 teaching materials available. Christian.

Location: Scattered.