Lexical variation in Mexican Sign Language

Issue Date: 
1991
Is Part Of Series: 
Sign Language Studies 72
Extent: 
pages 241-276
Abstract: 

Mexican Sign Language (MSL) is the primary language used throughout Mexico among a large segment of the deaf population, especially in towns and cities. This study represents a preliminary attempt to determine the amount of dialectal variation in MSL, primarily by means of a comparison of the signs used by nine different sources representing various locations, ages, and social groupings. It is offered in the hopes that it will be of use not only to linguists, but also to educators and social service agencies, both in Mexico and the United States of America. There is considerable uncertainty about this matter among professionals who work with the deaf, and many are very much interested in more accurate information than is currently available.

Although this study does not come close to covering all of Mexico, or even all social and age groupings in any location, it does give some idea as to the range of variation that is typical. The nature and extent of variation is described informally in section 1, and in section 2 it is shown to be relatively small, at least in terms of its vocabulary. Thus, there is a reasonable probability that MSL is indeed a single language, as discussed in section 3.To be certain, further testing of a different sort will be needed; but for now it seems best to emphasize the similarities within MSL, to foster interaction and increased communication between different segments of the deaf community, and to avoid actions that would tend to divide it or give the appearance that it is seriously divided linguistically. Specific recommendations along this line are given in section 4.

Publication Status: 
Published
Country: 
Mexico
Subject Languages: 
Content Language: 
Work Type: 
Subject: 
Nature of Work: 
Entry Number: 
6053