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Kenyan Sign Language (KSL)
Signed in:Kenya
Total signers:Unknown. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Prelingually Deaf population estimated 200,000.
Language family:Related to British Sign Language and American Sign Language; some signs from French (Belgian) Sign Language
Language codes
ISO 639-1:none
ISO 639-2:sgn
ISO 639-3:xki

 

sign language — list of sign languages — legal recognition

Kenyan Sign Language (English: KSL, Swahili: LAK) is the language of the Deaf community in Kenya, used throughout the country by a large number of the country's estimated Deaf population of 600,000. List of language familiesA language family is a group of Languages related by descent from a common ancestor called the Proto-language of that family ISO 639-1 is the first part of the ISO 639 international-standard language-code family ISO 639-2 is the second part of the ISO 639 standard, which lists codes for the representation of the names of languages ISO 639 -3 (ISO 639-32007 is an international standard for Language codes The standard describes three‐letter codes for identifying languages A sign language (also signed language) is a Language which instead of acoustically conveyed Sound patterns uses visually transmitted sign patterns Sign language is not universal Like spoken languages sign languages emerge naturally in communities and change through time The legal recognition of sign languages is one of the major concerns of the international Deaf community English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Swahili (called Kiswahili in the language itself is the First language of the Swahili people (Waswahili who inhabit several large stretches Deaf Culture is social group of people who consider Deafness to be a difference in human experience rather than a Disability.

There are some dialect differences between Kisumu (western Kenya) and Mombasa (eastern Kenya). Kisumu is a Port city in western Kenya at 1131m with a population of 355024 (1999 census Mombasa is the second largest City in Kenya, lying on the Indian Ocean. It may be related to sign languages in neighboring Uganda and Tanzania, though these sign languages are reported to be mutually unintelligible with KSL. A sign language (also signed language) is a Language which instead of acoustically conveyed Sound patterns uses visually transmitted sign patterns The Republic of Uganda is a Landlocked country in East Africa. Tanzania ˌtænzəˈniːə officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya

As well as Kenyan Sign Language, a number of other languages have been used in Kenya by foreign educators: Belgian Sign Language (in one school only), British Sign Language (in one school only) and American Sign Language (Gallaudet world FAQ), KIE Signed English and even Korean Sign Language (Ethnologue report). Flemish Sign Language ( Vlaamse Gebarentaal or VGT previously known as Belgian Sign Language is the language used by signers in Flanders, which is the northern part British Sign Language ( BSL) is the Sign language used in the United Kingdom (UK and is the first or preferred language of Deaf people in the American Sign Language (or ASL Ameslan is the dominant Sign language of the Deaf community in the United States, in the English-speaking parts Manually Coded English (MCE is a general term used to describe a variety of visual communication methods expressed through the hands which attempt to represent the English language Korean Sign Language (Korean Hangeul 수화 Hanja: 手話 Transliteration Soo-hwa/Su-hwa is used by Deaf Koreans in the Republic of It is probable that students in these schools use a form of KSL regardless.

A manual alphabet exists mainly from the American Sign Language manual alphabet. Fingerspelling (or dactylology) is the representation of the letters of a Writing system, and sometimes Numeral systems using only the hands However the British manual alphabet was used in the early years.

Contents

Status and recognition

KSL currently has no legal status, but there is a proposal that Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) and Braille should be recognized in the country's new constitution as national and official Languages alongside English and Kiswahili. A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Swahili (called Kiswahili in the language itself is the First language of the Swahili people (Waswahili who inhabit several large stretches

Interpreters are rarely available, and usually 'unqualified' uncertified due to the lack of a training program/certification process. [[[Kenya Sign Language Interpreters Association][1]]] was set up by a group of 20 local interpreters after a training by the first Deaf Education US Peace Corps Volunteers in September of 2000. Prior to this training there were several short term trainings conducted by KSLRP/KNAD dating back to 1980s and 1990s. [KSLIA][2] is an indigenous initiative evolving and strengthening the face of the Interpreting profession in Kenya. [KSLIA][3] hopes to improve and elevate the standards of Interpreting in Kenya through the following objectives:

a)To secure official recognition by the Government of S. L Interpreters profession

b)Encourage and promote initiatives in improving the standards of SL interpreting and interpreter training and pay scale of interpreters depending with their level and skills of interpretation through certification.

c)Cooperation with other recognized bodies concerned in the welfare of the deaf and in provision of S. L Interpreters throughout the world.

d)Awareness creation on Deafness and SL. Interpreters through publication of information materials

e)To collect and raise funds for the achievement of goals and objectives through membership fee, subscription, contribution, gifts or donations, commissions and payments, fund raising whether in money or otherwise from both members and non members.

f)To maintain and administer a registry of S. L Interpreters in Kenya, enforce a code of ethics and mediate conflict between the Interpreters and their clients.

KSLIA is working towards the establishment of a training program and a certification process for its membership. [KSLIA][4] envisions its role in a three pronged approach - the three C's - Certification of members, Continuing education for the practicing Interpreters and Conflict resolution through enforcement of the Code of Ethics.

Global Deaf Connection,Deaf Aid, and [[[KSLIA][5]]] have jointly organized a series of trainings aimed at developing a process to provide training, certification and continued professional development for Kenyan Interpreters.

A Kenyan Sign Language dictionary was published in 1991. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. KSLRP working with Peace Corp Volunteers have recently developed an interactive digital dictionary ([KSL Interactive][6])

KSL is not generally used in the classrooms of Kenya's 35 residential boarding schools for deaf students, despite it being their main language, and reportedly literacy in English and Kiswahili is very low among the deaf community. A boarding school is a School where some or all pupils not only study but also live during term time with their fellow students and possibly teachers Swahili (called Kiswahili in the language itself is the First language of the Swahili people (Waswahili who inhabit several large stretches Since the first deaf schools were established in the 1960s, the teaching staff rarely (if ever) included a deaf person, until a government program in the 1990s (spearheaded by the Kenya National Association of the Deaf) saw two deaf individuals trained and employed as teachers. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 However, the program is now continued by Global Deaf Connection chaired by Nickson Kakiri. It is based at Machakos Teachers College.

Sign language organisations

The Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD) is a national non-governmental organisation formed and managed by Deaf people. It was established in 1986 and registered in 1987 under the Societies Act; KNAD is also an ordinary member of the World Federation of the Deaf. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD is an international Non-governmental organization that acts as a Peak body for national associations of Deaf people

The [Kenyan Sign Language Interpreters Association] KSLIA is a national, non governemntal, Society formed and managed by Kenyan Interpreters to promote the development of the Interpreting profession in Kenya and to provide quality Interpretation services for Deaf Kenyans. It was established in September of 2000. KSLIA is working on becoming a member of WASLI World Association of Sign Language Interpreters.

Sign Bilingual Schools

Humble Hearts School in Nairobi, Kisii School for the Deaf and Kenya Christian School for the Deaf at Oyugis uses KSL as the language of instruction. Kisii School for Deaf Children is Kenya 's only deaf-run and deaf-led school for deaf children Humble Hearts School is Kenya's first sign bilingual school where KSL and English are taught on an equal par. Kedowa School for the Deaf in Kericho District also uses KSL for instruction, and is unique among Deaf schools in Kenya in that more than half of the teachers at the school are Deaf themselves.

References

External links

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