Lithuanian Sign Language

A language of Lithuania

ISO 639: lls
Alternate Names: LGK, Lietuvių gestų kalba, Lietuviu gestu kalba, LtSL
Population: 8,000 (2021 EUD). Approximately 0.3% of total population. Another estimate: 14,500 (2014 IMB).
Location:: Scattered.
Language Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Law on Education, No. XI-1281, Article 30(6), as amended).
Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects: Some lexical variation, with attempts at standardization (Kupcinskas 1999). Influence from Russian Sign Language [rsl] from 1945 until 1990. Some degree of mutual intelligibility with sign languages in other former Soviet countries, with ongoing tendency to diverge from Russian Sign Language [rsl] (2016 S. Parkhurst).
Typology: One-handed fingerspelling.
Language Use: Vigorous. Used by all. Also use Lithuanian [lit].
Language Development: TV. Theater. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2018. Agency: Lithuanian Deaf Association (Lietuvos kurčiųjų draugija, LKD).
Other Comments: Deaf schools. Deaf associations. Fingerspelling system similar to French Sign Language [fsl]. Video remote interpreting service launched in 2012. 111 working sign language interpreters (2021 EUD). Christian.

Location: Scattered.