Swedish Sign Language

This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Swedish. (January 2015) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation like DeepL or Google Translate is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Consider adding a topic to this template: there are already 825 articles in the main category, and specifying|topic= will aid in categorization. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Swedish Wikipedia article at [[:sv:]]; see its history for attribution. You should also add the template {{Translated page}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

Swedish Sign Language
Svenskt Teckenspråk
Native to	Sweden
Native speakers	10,000 (2014)[1]
Language family	Swedish Sign Swedish Sign Language
Writing system	SignWriting[2]
Language codes
ISO 639-3	swl
Glottolog	swed1236
ELP	Swedish Sign Language
Coordinates: 59°21′00″N 18°04′00″E / 59.3500°N 18.0667°E / 59.3500; 18.0667, 64°00′00″N 26°00′00″E / 64.0000°N 26.0000°E / 64.0000; 26.0000

Play media

The Swedish Sign Language word for "part-time"

Swedish Sign Language (SSL; Svenskt teckenspråk) is the sign language used in Sweden. It is recognized by the Swedish government as the country's official sign language, and hearing parents of deaf individuals are entitled to access state-sponsored classes that facilitate their learning of SSL.^[3] There are fewer than 10,000 speakers, making the language officially endangered.^[4]

History[]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (August 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Swedish sign language first came into use in 1800. It does not stem from any other languages. In fact, this self-created language went on to influence Finnish Sign Language and Portuguese Sign Language. 1809 marks the year of the first deaf school,  [sv], in Sweden. It was not until 1981 that Swedish Sign Language was recognized as a national language of Sweden.

Handshapes[]

Many of the handshapes used in fingerspelling in Swedish Sign Language are similar to those in American Sign Language, even though the two languages are not related. For example, D is the same as B in ASL, G is the same as S in ASL, H is the same as F in ASL, I is the same in ASL, K is the same in ASL, M and N are very similar in ASL, O is the same in ASL, S is the same as C in ASL, and U, V & W are the same in ASL (but with a different palm orientation).^[5]

Swedish Sign Language Alphabet (view from speaker)

American Sign Language Alphabet (view from listener)

Education and communication[]

Per the Education Act of 1998, deaf children are expected to be able to write in Swedish and English, in addition to expressing their thoughts in Swedish Sign Language. Thus, six state-run schools (one of which specializes in learning disabilities) have been established regionally for deaf children who cannot attend traditional comprehensive schools. Comprehensive and secondary schools in Sweden offer classes in addition to a one-year program to students to learn Swedish Sign Language as a third national language, as well as in hopes of becoming an interpreter. Interpreters are found in hospitals, and they also teach the language to the parents and siblings of deaf children. Sweden provides 240 hours of courses over four years to parents so that they may learn to communicate with their children. Additionally, weekly courses in the language are also available to the siblings of deaf children and the children of deaf parents.^[6]

Expanding the culture of the deaf[]

Since the recognition of Swedish Sign Language as a national language of Sweden, the Swedish government has made available to deaf individuals television shows and news broadcasts in sign language. Subtitles in sign language are also increasing. On November 29, 2001, the first Bible was translated into Swedish Sign Language. Furthermore, the Health and Medical Service Act (1982) guaranteed interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in working life, leisure, and club activities.^[6]

See also[]

• Signed Swedish

References[]

Further reading[]

• Lyxell, Tommy. Se språket – barns tillgång till svenskt teckenspråk [See the language – children's access to Swedish Sign Language] (PDF) (Report). Rapporter från Språkrådet (in Swedish). Graphic design by Nyberg, Mikael. Cover image by Nyberg, Tora. Investigated by Spetz, Jennie. Swedish Language Council. ISBN 978-91-86959-14-2.

External links[]

• Swedish Sign Language Interpretation of Måns Zelmerlöw's Song "Heroes"
• Swedish Sign Language Alphabet
• Swedish vs American Sign Language Alphabet
• http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/7359