Ban Khor Sign Language | |
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ภาษามือบ้านค้อ | |
Native to | Thailand |
Native speakers | 400 (2009)[1] |
sign language
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Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | bfk |
Glottolog | bank1251 |
ELP | Ban Khor Sign Language |
Ban Khor Sign Language (BKSL; Thai: ภาษามือบ้านค้อ) is a village sign language used by at least 400 people of a rice-farming community in the village of Ban Khor in a remote area of Isan (northeastern Thailand).[2][3][4] Known locally as pasa kidd ('language of the mute'), it developed in the 1930s due to a high number of deaf people. Estimated number of users in 2009 was 16 deaf and approximately 400 hearing out of 2741 villagers.[3] It is a language isolate, independent of the other sign languages of Thailand such as Old Bangkok Sign Language and the national Thai Sign Language.[4]
Thai Sign Language is increasingly exerting an influence on BKSL. Younger Deaf attend distant residential Deaf schools where they learn Thai Sign Language. Even middle-aged hearing people are using Thai SL vocabulary mixed with BKSL. Attitudes favoring Thai SL over BKSL are beginning to be expressed.[4]