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Brazilian Sign Language

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Brazilian Sign Language, also known as "Libras" (from "Língua Brasileira de Sinais") and previously known as LSB, LGB or LSCB (Brasilian Cities Sign Language),[1] is the language of the Deaf communities of urban Brazil.

Recognition and status

Libras is well-established; several dictionaries, instructional videos and a number of articles on the linguistic features of the language have been published.

A strong sign language law was passed by the National Congress of Brazil on April 24 2002, and (in 2005) is in the process of being implemented (see the law here (in Portuguese)). The law mandates the use of Libras in education and government services.

Educational approaches has evolved from oralism to Total Communication to bilingualism.

Alphabet

Libras fingerspelling uses a one-handed manual alphabet similar to that used by the French Sign Language family. See this link.

There are 44 distinct handshapes used in the language.[1]

Deaf and sign language organizations

The peak deaf organization is FENEIS, the Federação Nacional de Educação e Integração dos Surdos. There are a number of regional organizations in Curitiba, Caxias do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Ferreira-Brito, Lucinda and Langevin, Rémi (1994), The Sublexical Structure of a Sign Language, Mathématiques, Informatique et Sciences Humaines 32:125, 1994 - pp. 17-40

References

  • Gama, Flausine José da Costa: Iconographia dos Signaes dos Surdos-Mudos.[Iconography of Signs for the Deaf-Mute]. Rio de Janeiro : E.+H.Laemmert 1875
  • Capovilla, F. C., and W. D. Raphael, eds. 2001. Dicionário enciclopédico ilustrado trilíngüe da Língua de Sinais Brasileira: Vols. 1 (Sinais de A a L) & 2 (Sinais de M a Z). [Trilingual illustrated encyclopedic dictionary of Brazilian Sign Language, Vols. 1 and 2] São Paulo: Edusp, FAPESP, Fundação Vitae, Feneis, Brasil Telecom. Volume One: ISBN 85-314-0600-5 Volume Two: ISBN 85-314-0603-X
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