Brazilian Sign Language

language
name=Libras (Brazilian Sign Language)
states=Brazil
region=Cities
signers= + 5,000,000
family=unknown
iso2=sgn-BR|iso3=bzs

Brazilian Sign Language, also known as "Libras" (from "Língua Brasileira de Sinais") and previously known as LSB, LGB or LSCB (Brasilian Cities Sign Language),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] 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 [http://www.libras.org.br/leilibras.htm 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 [http://www.libras.org.br/Thumbnails/FrameSet.htm this link] .

There are 44 distinct handshapes used in the language.

Deaf and sign language organizations

The most important 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.

ee also

*Urubú-Kaapor Sign Language - another sign language of Brazil.

Footnotes

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

External links

* [http://www.wiksign.org/lsf/Langue:Signes_du_Monde#Br.C3.A9sil Full list of online LIBRAS dictionaries] en - fr
* [http://www.libras.org.br/ www.libras.org.br] - NGO with information and services relating to Libras.
* [http://www.theinterpretersfriend.com/indj/dcoew/brazil.html Collection of links] by "The Interpreters Friend".
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0483983/ Entrevista Com o Surdo Gay] - IMDB info on movie in Libras.
* [http://www.dicionariolibras.com.br/ Site from Brazil] - IMDB info from brazil, very good.(Portuguese)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw152NQh3c/ Campanha Legenda Nacional] - Video, in Portuguese and Libras with captioning, from the Brazilian campaign to promote captioning.