Korean Sign Language

Korean Sign Language
Signed in South Korea
Language family
Japanese Sign
  • Korean Sign Language
Language codes
ISO 639-3 kvk

Korean Sign Language or KSL (Korean: 手話 수화 Suhwa) is the deaf sign language of Korea.[1]

The beginnings of KSL date from 1889.[2]

The first primary school for deaf children, opened in 1908, used KSL.

Although the origins of KSL predate the colonial period, the sign language developed some features in common with Japanese Sign Language (JSL) grammar.[2] KSL is considered part of the Japanese Sign Language family.[3]

Contents

Functional markers

KSL, like other sign languages, incorporates non-manual markers with lexical, syntactic, discourse, and affective functions. These include brow raising and furrowing, frowning, head shaking and nodding, and leaning and shifting the torso.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ KSL is currently used in South Korea; however, the situation in North Korea is unknown.
  2. ^ a b Fischer, Susan et al. (2010). "Variation in East Asian Sign Language Structures" in Sign Languages, p. 501. at Google Books
  3. ^ Fischer, p. 499. at Google Books
  4. ^ Fischer, p. 507. at Google Books

References