| Standard Tibetan Sign | |
|---|---|
| Native to | China |
| Region | Tibet, especiallyLhasa |
Native speakers | 500 (2018)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | lsn |
| Glottolog | tibe1277 |
Tibetan Sign Language is the recently establisheddeaf sign language ofTibet.
Tibetan Sign is the first recognized sign language for a minority in China. The Tibetan Sign Language Project, staffed by members of the local deaf club, was set up under the supervision ofHandicap International in 2001 to create a standardized language, based primarily on the existing sign language of Lhasa, as a replacement for the regional sign languages of Tibet.[2][3] For example, the deaf ofNagqu have a well developed vocabulary for livestock, while those of Lhasa have more specialized vocabulary for urban life.[3] The standard was announced by the Chinese government in 2004.
The Chinese government press agencyXinhua said thatChinese Sign Language was not practical because deaf Tibetans do not knowChinese characters, and that club members will introduce the new standard throughout Tibet.[4] ATibetan manual alphabet was created by club members from theTibetan alphabet without exposure to foreign forms offingerspelling.[3]
