International Sign

Language Name International Sign Language (ISL) Language Author World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf Year Began 1950 Site International Sign Language (ISL) Broken Link No Site Language English Language Type international auxiliary language Uniqueness ISL (AKA Gestuno) is an international sign language created by members of the international Deaf community. "Gestuno is to Deaf as Esperanto is to Hearing." Language Sources Mainly American Sign Language, British Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, Danish Sign Language, Italian Sign Language, and possibly a few others. Design Principles The primary goal was to provide a quick and easy means of communication at international meetings of Deaf people. It has 1500 words, which is actually rather typical of a sign-language dictionary. Interest Of Others Some, but by no means all, of the Deaf community is interested in it because it represents a way to communicate with Deaf people of other countries, which before was only possible through pantomime or possibly a shared written language (as is the case for users of American Sign Language and British sign language). Apparently no one bothered to create a grammar for it. Dictionary Yes Etymologies No Grammar No Sample Texts No Unique Script No Primer No Babel Text No Lexicon Size 1,500 Submitted By Marq Thompson Date Submitted Thursday, May 01, 2003 Updated By Jeffrey Henning Date Edited Monday, February 09, 2004 Description Of Update Updated date and author and selected more popular site. Date To Headline Thursday, May 01, 2003