Bhutanese Sign Language (BhSL; Drukgi Lagdai Khakay in Dzongkha) is the indigenous sign language of Bhutan, used especially at the Wangsel Institute for the Deaf, Paro, Bhutan.
Bhutan set up the program for the deaf in a hearing school in Thimphu ca. 2000, and the first dedicated school, in Paro, was approved in 2013.[1] Part of government funding for deaf education includes developing Bhutanese Sign Language as the language of instruction. Development includes at least creating vocabulary for technical subjects,[2] and deciding on which regional signs to use where they differ.[3]
It is not clear if there are multiple sign languages in Bhutan, or merely local differences in vocabulary. It is unknown whether Bhutanese Sign Language is related to Indian Sign Language or Nepali Sign Language.[4]
Hofer, Theresia (forthcoming) 'Signed Languages in the Greater Himalayas and Tibet' In: Hildebrandt, K.; Modi, Yankee; Peterson, David and Hi. Suzuki (Eds.) The Oxford Guide to Tibeto-Burman Languages. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
^a Sign-language names reflect the region of origin. Natural sign languages are not related to the spoken language used in the same region. For example, French Sign Language originated in France, but is not related to French. Conversely, ASL and BSL both originated in English-speaking countries but are not related to each other; ASL however is related to French Sign Language.
^b Denotes the number (if known) of languages within the family. No further information is given on these languages.
