Irish Sign Language (ISL) is the sign language of Ireland, used primarily in the Republic of Ireland. It is also used in Northern Ireland, though Northern Ireland Sign Language (NISL) and British Sign Language are used more often. Irish Sign Language is more closely related to French Sign Language than to British Sign Language, which was first used in Dublin. It has influenced sign languages in Australia and South Africa, and has little relation to either spoken Irish or English.

The Irish Deaf Society says that ISL "arose from within deaf communities", "was developed by deaf people themselves" and "has been in existence for hundreds of years", but according to Ethnologue the language originated in the period of 1846-1849. The SIL code for Irish Sign Language is ISG. ISL is the SIL code for Israeli Sign Language.

See also

• Australian Sign Language
• Northern Ireland Sign Language
• South African Sign Language

External links

• "What is ISL?". Article from Irish Deaf Society website.
• Irish Sign Language. Entry on Ethnologue.

Languages of Ireland | Languages of the United Kingdom | Sign languages