Ban Khor Sign Language
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Ban Khor Sign Language (BKSL) is a sign language used by about 1,000 people of a rice-farming community in remote areas of Isan (northeastern Thailand). It developed about 60-80 years ago due to a high number of deaf people. Preliminary observation has tentatively suggested it may be a language isolate, independent of the five other known original sign languages in Thailand (Huay Hai Sign Language, Plaa Pag Sign Language, and Na Sai Sign Language from the Nakhon Phanom Province, Old Bangkok Sign Language, and Old Chiangmai Sign Language). as well as the national Thai Sign Language. However, TSL is increasingly exerting an influence on BKSL.
[edit] References
- Nonaka, Angela M. (2004). The forgotten endangered languages: Lessons on the importance of remembering from Thailand's Ban Khor Sign Language. In: Language in Society 33:5 (2004) pp. 737-768
