| Information for BSL signers wishing to come to New Zealand. | |
| Fact Sheet - BSL and NZS... |
| Download this PDF format in place of brochures. We have run out of brochures. This provides all the information! | |
| NZSL Info Sheet.pdf |
New Zealand Sign Language
New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is the natural language of the Deaf community in New Zealand. NZSL is a visual-gestural language, which conveys ideas by signs, facial expressions, body language and lip patterns and has its own grammar, rules and sentence structures, which is different from English or Maori. It means that if you follow English words in signs, it will be lost in meanings or concepts.
NZSL has originally developed over the century from British Sign Language roots and home-made and school signs. Today, there are rich variations in the use and growth in NZSL due to many factors.
Interested in learning New Zealand Sign Language? To get information about local NZSL classes, go to our NZSL Class listing.
Facts to start with...
27,285 people use New Zealand Sign Language.
Around 400,00 people in New Zealand have hearing impairement but 7,000 are culturally Deaf.
There are 62.5% similarities found in British Sign Language and NZSL. Compare that with 33% of NZSL signs found in American Sign Language.
Source: Numbers are based on NZ Census 2002 and research done by Victoria University of Wellington.
