Paraguayan Sign Language

Paraguayan Sign Language
Native to	Paraguay
Native speakers	15,000 (2009)
Language family	Paraguay–Uruguay Sign Language family?
Language codes
ISO 639-3	pys
Glottolog	para1318
ELP

Paraguayan Sign Language (Spanish: Lengua de señas paraguaya, LSPY), is the deaf sign language of Paraguay. It is not intelligible with neighboring languages, nor with American Sign Language, but speakers report that it has historical connections with Uruguayan Sign Language. It developed outside the schools, and was only used in education in 2009.

Paraguay is notably a bilingual country, where both Spanish and Guarani are spoken. The Language Law No. 4251 provides for fingerspelling adequate to both languages.

Bibliography

• Lichtenberger, Wilfried. 1990. Habla Conmigo: primer libro de aprendizaje de la lengua para escolares principiantes con difficultades en el lenguaje. Asunción: Centro Editorial Paraguayo S.R.L.
• Lichtenberger, Wilfried. 1990. Guia linguistica y didactica del Habla Conmigo: primer libro de aprendizaje de la lengua para escolares principiantes con difficultades en el lenguaje para el Profesor especial. Asunción.