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EstonianSignLanguage is a DeafSignLanguage of Estonia. SIL code: ESO. ISO 639-2: sgn. Population: 4,500 users out of 1,600 deaf and 20,000 hearing impaired. 2,000 persons need regular help from interpreters (1998 Urmas Sutrop). Region: Throughout Estonia, especially Tallinn and Parnu. Alternate names: VIIPEKEEL. Comments: Some local dialects. The dialect in Parnu is the most archaic. Apparent influences from Finnish and Russian Sign Languages. Some people can use both Estonian and Russian Sign Languages. Russian Sign Language is used in Tallinn by deaf Russians. In other regions Russians use some pidginized versions of Russian Sign Language mixed with Estonian Sign Language. Systematic teaching and research since 1990 at the Dept. of Special Education at Tartu University. Sign language instruction for parents of deaf children in Tallinn. Classes for hearing people in Tallinn and Parnu. Classes for interpretars. Schools for children with hearing impairments. Many children with hearing impairments in ordinary schools. Oral and signed teaching. There is a Society of the Interpreters of Estonian Sign Language. Centers for interpreters in Tallinn, Tartu, Parnu, at the Association of Deaf People. Local authorities pay for interpreters for 36 hours for each deaf person per year. Some grants for students who need interpreters. Courts accept signed interpretation and pay for interpreters. Dictionary. Grammar. TV, videos.(extract from http://www.ethnologue.com/)
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