Greek Sign Language

Updated on Nov 21, 2023

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Native to Greece Glottolog gree1271		ISO 639-3 gss
Native speakers Estimates run from 6,000 to 60,000 (2014) Differences may reflect degree of fluency. Language family French Sign FSL–ASL mix Greek Sign Language

Greek Sign Language (Greek: Ελληνική νοηματική γλώσσα) is the sign language of the Greek deaf community. It has been legally recognised as the official language of the Deaf Community in Greece by Law 2817 in 2000.

The Greek Sign Language is estimated to be used by about 40,600 signers in 1986.

Greek SL formed in the 1950s when American Sign Language and French Sign Language came together, with admixture from indigenous sign.

Relevant literature

Hatzopoulou, Marianna. 2008. Acquisition of reference to self and others in Greek Sign Language: From pointing gesture to pronominal pointing signs. Doctoral dissertation, Stockholm University. Online access

References

Greek Sign Language Wikipedia

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