Bhutanese Sign Language

Bhutanese Sign Language
BhSL, Drukgi Lagdai Khakay
Native to	Bhutan
Language family	unclassified
Language codes
ISO 639-3	None (mis)
Glottolog	None

Bhutanese Sign Language (BhSL; Drukgi Lagdai Khakay in Dzongkha) is the indigenous sign language of Bhutan, used especially at the Wangsel Institute for the Deaf, Paro, Bhutan.

Bhutan set up the program for the deaf in a hearing school in Thimpu ca. 2000, and the first dedicated school, in Paro, was approved in 2013.^[1] Part of government funding for deaf education includes developing Bhutanese Sign Language as the language of instruction. Development includes at least creating vocabulary for technical subjects,^[2] and deciding on which regional signs to use where they differ.^[3]

It is not clear if there are multiple sign languages in Bhutan, or merely local differences in vocabulary. It is unknown whether Bhutanese Sign Language is related to Indian Sign Language or Nepali Sign Language.^[4]

References

1. "Gallaudet Alumna Helps Set Course for Deaf Education in Bhutan". Gallaudet University. Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
2. "Consultancy: Research, Bhutanese Sign Language". Georgem. Archived from the original on 2015-04-25. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
3. "Bhutan to Begin Deaf Education". Deaf Today. 19 May 2003. Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
4. "The Deaf Community of India" (PDF). 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2015-02-19 – via Joshua Project.