Also Known As:
Mali Sign Language, Langue des Signes Malienne, LaSiMa, Bamako Sign Language, LSM, Langue des signes bambara
Dialects & Varieties
The sign language situation in Mali
The sign language situation in Mali
Endangered
40 percent certain, based on the evidence available
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 3
Only about half of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are decreasing steadily, but not at an accelerated pace.
3
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 2
Used in some non-official domains along with other languages, and remains the primary language used in the home for many community members.
2
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
40,000-60,000
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
"Deaf education in Mali has always been accepting of sign language use, and oralism has not been an official method. Although LSM predominantly emerged outside a school environment and continues to be used there, the language was the initial medium of instruction at both schools for deaf children in Bamako. At the EDA, LSM was replaced by Langue des signes francaise (LSF) following contacts with supporting organizations in France (Bala Keita, pers. comm.). Around 2001 these two schools jointly decided to use ASL for instruction. Around 2009 a volunteer from CECI was appointed for one year to teach Langue des signes quebecoise to a group of deaf pupils."
Location and Context
Countries
Mali
Location Description
No results found.
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
Deaf schools in other sign languages; Association malienne pour les sourds (AMASOURD); Dictionary (1999); HRELP-funded documentation project
Speakers' Attitude
Lower prestige than ASL
Other Languages Used By The Community
(Malian) American Sign Language, French, Local languages
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No results found.
Recent Resources
A three year poject has been initiated to describe and document Malian Sign Language.
"This article gives a first overview of the sign language situation in Mali and its capital, Bamako,
A signed description of the Malian Sign Language project.