Mongolian Sign Language

A language of Mongolia

ISO 639: msr
Alternate Names: MSL
Population: 16,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 9,000–20,000 deaf signers, based on 0.3%–0.6% of total population.
Location:: Scattered.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Dialects: Lexical variation especially related to age and cohort at the deaf school, with relatively rapid rate of innovation (Geer 2012).
Language Use: Vigorous. Used by all. Some also use Halh Mongolian [khk] (Geer 2012).
Language Development: Agency: Mongolian Sign Language Center (MSLC).
Other Comments: First deaf school established 1964 with aid from Russia, so Russian Sign Language [rsl] had early influence, but the two languages are now different. MSL is not used in the classroom, only by students outside class; rather instruction is in spoken Mongolian [khk] supplemented by fingerspelling (Geer 2011, Geer 2012).

Location: Scattered.