Inuit Sign Language
| Inuit Sign Language | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Canada |
| Region | Arctic |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
| ELP | Inuit Sign Language |
Inuit Sign Language (ISL), or Eskimo Sign Language, is an indigenous sign language used by both the deaf and hearing communities in part of the Canadian Arctic, including Nunavut, and perhaps in northern Quebec and Nova Scotia as well. It appears to be a fully developed language, in that it can be used to discussed various topics and convey emotion.
Several of these communities have large deaf populations. However, the hearing have been observed to use it for inter-dialectical communication with Inuit from other communities. MacDougall (2000) notes that "this is not unusual for nomadic hunters and others living in isolated places".
References
- MacDougall, JC (2000) 'Access to justice for deaf Inuit in Nunavut: The role of "Inuit sign language".' Canadian Psychology, 2001(Feb) 42(1):61–73
- (a summary may be more readily available in Coon (2009) Psychology: A Journey)