New Zealand Sign Language - Definition and Overview

New Zealand Sign Language, or NZSL, is the main language of the Deaf Community in New Zealand.

New Zealand Sign Language has its roots in British Sign Language (BSL), and may be technically considered a dialect of BANZSL.

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

Official language of New Zealand

NZSL is expected to soon become the third official language of New Zealand, joining English and Maori. A New Zealand Sign Language Bill is currently in the process of being passed as an Act of Parliament. At the last reading, on June 22 2004, it was supported by all political parties. It has been used in public schools for the deaf (including Kelston Deaf Education Centre and Van Asch Deaf Education Centre) since 1994.

Dialects of NZSL

Differences in lexicon in NZSL have largely developed through the student communities surrounding four schools for the deaf in New Zealand:

• St. Dominic's School for the Deaf, started in Wellington 1944, moved to Fielding in 1953
• Sumner School for the Deaf, started in 1880
• Titirangi School for the Deaf, opened in 1944
• Kelston School for the Deaf, opened 1958