 | This article needs attention from an expert in languages. The specific problem is: identity and nature needs confirmation. (October 2019) |
| Emirati Sign Language | |
|---|---|
| لغة الإشارة الإماراتية | |
| Native to | UAE |
Native speakers | unknown; deaf population of 600 or more (2011)[1] |
Perhaps an Arab sign language | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | None (mis) |
| Glottolog | None |
Emirati Sign Language (Arabic: لغة الإشارة الإماراتية, romanized: Lughat al-Ishārah al-Imārātīyah is a unified sign language for the deaf community in the UAE.
Emirati Sign Language has been developed by the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination and is the first deaf sign language for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dialect, and a unified reference language for those with hearing disabilities in the UAE. The UAE launched its first sign language dictionary in 2018, while the first dictionary of Unified Arabic Sign Language was released in 2001. The dictionary was compiled by eight authorities with the help of 60 people with hearing difficulties and sign language specialists from across the UAE, and is used to standardize the signs used by deaf people in the UAE. It includes details about the Emirati culture and heritage, such as traditional clothes, local food, and historical places, which was previously chosen, and is divided into many sections that cover topics such as numbers, countries, family, and religion.[2][3]
There are approximately 72 million deaf people worldwide, using more than 300 different sign languages, according to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).[4][relevant?]
- ^ Swan, Melanie (July 24, 2011). "Voice for those who can't be heard". The National. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ Haza, Ruba (May 23, 2018). "Deaf and hard of hearing Emiratis hail UAE's first sign language dictionary". The National. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- ^ "Why isn't there one unified sign language in the Middle East region?". euronews. July 3, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ "Our Work". World Federation of the Deaf. Retrieved March 2, 2021.