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NZSL

New Zealand Sign Language
NZSL
Sw-nzsl.png
Native to New Zealand
Native speakers
20,200 (2013 census)
BANZSL
  • New Zealand Sign Language
Official status
Official language in
New Zealand
Language codes
ISO 639-3
Glottolog newz1236

New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL (Māori: Te Reo Rotarota) is the main language of the Deaf community in New Zealand. It became an official language of New Zealand in April 2006, alongside English and te reo Māori.

New Zealand Sign Language has its roots in British Sign Language (BSL), and may be technically considered a dialect of British, Australian and New Zealand Sign Language (BANZSL). There are 62.5% similarities found in British Sign Language and NZSL, compared with 33% of NZSL signs found in American Sign Language.

Like other natural sign languages, it was devised by and for deaf people, with no linguistic connection to a spoken or written language.

It uses the same two-handed manual alphabet as BSL (British Sign Language) and Auslan (Australian Sign Language).

It uses more lip-patterns in conjunction with hand and facial movement to cue signs than BSL, reflecting New Zealand's history of oralist education of deaf people. Its vocabulary includes Māori concepts such as marae and tangi, and signs for New Zealand placenames. (E.g. Rotorua - mudpools,Wellington - windy breeze, Auckland - Sky Tower, Christchurch - 2 Cs, represents ChCh.)


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