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MexicanSignLanguage is a DeafSignLanguage of Mexico. SIL code: MFS. ISO 639-2: sgn. Population: 87,000 to 100,000 mainly monolingual users (1986 T.C. Smith-Stark), out of 1,300,000 deaf persons in Mexico (1986 Gallaudet University). Region: Used throughout Mexico, except in some American Indian areas (see Yucatec Maya Sign Language): Mexico D.F. Guadalajara, Monterrey, Hermosillo, Morelia, Veracruz, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Puebla, Cuernavaca, Torreon, Saltillo, Toluca. Alternate names: EL LENGUAJE MEXICANO DE LAS MANOS, EL LENGUAJE MANUAL DE MEXICO, LA LENGUA MANUAL MEXICANA, EL LENGUAJE DE SENAS MEXICANAS. Comments: Influence from French Sign Language. Users of ASL have 14% intelligibility of MSL. Preliminary investigation indicates lexical similarities from 85% to 100% among regional dialects, nearly all above 90% (A. Bickford SIL 1989). Most deaf schools use the oralist method, but some use signs. At least 3 deaf churches in Mexico City, 3 in Guadalajara. 19 schools for the deaf in Saltillo, Torreon, Guadalajara (3), Mexico City (6), Morelia, Cuernavaca, Monterrey, Ciudad Obregon, Hermosillo, Villahermosa, Matamoros, Veracruz, athletic clubs, craft schools, rehabilitation institutions. It does not follow Spanish grammar. The deaf are called 'sordos, sordomudos, los silentes.' Dictionary.(extract from http://www.ethnologue.com/)
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