Indo-Pakistani Sign Language

<p>Indo-Pakistani Sign Language (IPSL) is the predominant <a href="/facts/Sign_language/Wjfl9Db6">sign language</a> in <a href="/facts/The_subcontinent/0XUWGXpx">the subcontinent</a> of South Asia, used by at least 15 million <a href="/facts/Deaf_culture/JHK4m5E9">deaf</a> signers.  As with many sign languages, it is difficult to estimate numbers with any certainty, as the <a href="/facts/Census_of_India/V7tGhT6y">Census of India</a> does not list sign languages and most studies have focused on the north and urban areas. As of 2024, it is the most used sign language in the world, and <a href="/facts/Ethnologue/0AanCzKS">Ethnologue</a> ranks it as the 149th most "spoken" language in the world.
</p><p>Some scholars regard varieties in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and possibly Nepal as variety of Indo-Pakistani Sign Language. Others recognize some varieties as separate languages. The <a href="/facts/ISO_639-3/wEgdb8bK">ISO standard</a> currently distinguishes:
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<ul><li>Indian Sign Language (<a href="https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/ins">ins</a>),</li>
<li>Pakistan Sign Language (<a href="https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/pks">pks</a>),</li>
<li>West Bengal Sign Language (Kolkata Sign Language) (<a href="https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/wbs">wbs</a>), and</li>
<li>Nepalese Sign Language (<a href="https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/nsp">nsp</a>).</li></ul>

Indo-Pakistani Sign Language open-in-new

Indo-Pakistani Sign Language