Research Team Discovers Existence of Hawaii Sign Language
University of Hawai`i News Release
A research group based in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa announced this morning that they have confirmed the existence of a previously undocumented language in Hawai‘i called Hawai‘i Sign Language (HSL). This is the first time since the 1930’s that a previously unknown language, either spoken or signed, has been documented in the U.S., and it could be the last of America’s undiscovered languages.
The announcement was made in conjunction with the 3rd International Conference on Language Documentation and Conservation at UH Mānoa.
HSL, the indigenous language of Deaf people in Hawai‘i, is one of only two known surviving sign languages in the United States.…