Central African Republic
Total Population
5.4 million
Deaf Population
19,000
Number of Sign Language Users
Nation's Official Language
French, Sango
Other Languages
The number of established languages listed in Ethnologue is 72. Some of these are:
- Ali
- Arabic, Shuwa
- Banda, Mid-Southern
- Banda, South Central
- Bangi
- Dagba
- Fulfulde, Bagirmi
- Gbanziri
- Gbaya
- Gula
- Hausa
- Kako
- Kare
- Langbashe
- Lingala
- Lutos
- Mandja
- Ngbaka Ma’bo
- Nzakara
- Pana
- Runga
Name of Sign Language
American Sign Language, LSAF
Overview Of Deaf Community And Education
It is reported that American Sign Language is the language used in education but ASL has interacted with Frnch resulting in a form of Langue des Signes de l'Afrique Francophone (LSAF).
There is apparently one school for the deaf in Bangui. American Sign Language was used in this deaf school founded in 1977 by the American missionary Andrew Foster (Christian Mission for the Deaf, CMD) but now a form of LSAF is apparently used. The school functioned for many years with no government support on the basis of volunteers
Sign Language Overview
The sign language used has not been given a national name but is referred to as ASL or LSAF. There is no information on local signs. Work on LSAF is underway.
Deaf Organizations In Country
Overview of Interpreting Services
Resources
Kamei Nobutaka (2017) Anthropological Research on Sign Languages in French-Speaking West and Central Africa.
http://ffj.ehess.fr/index/article/353/anthropological-research-on-sign-languages-in-french-speaking-west-and-central-africa.html
Marlock Garison, Annette D. (2015) in SAGE Deaf Studies Encyclopedia Middle African Deaf Schools and organisations.
Kamei, Nobutaka (ed.) (2008). DVD: Langue des Signes d’Afrique Francophone (LSAF). Fuchu: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. [In Langue des Signes d’Afrique Francophone (LSAF), French, Japanese]
List of Contributors
Henri Evouna Etoundi, Ajong Gerald Keys, Anne Baker
