{{Short description|Sign language of Brazil}} {{Redirect|Libras||Libra (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox language | name = Brazilian Sign Language | altname = Libras | states = [[Brazil]] and [[Brazilian diaspora]] | region = Urban areas | speakers = 630,000 | date = 2021 | ref = e25 | speakers_label = Signers | familycolor = sign | family = [[Language isolate]]?<ref name="nou-la.org"/> | iso3 = bzs | glotto = braz1236 | glottorefname = Brazilian Sign Language | ELP = 7003 | ELPname = Língua Brasileira de Sinais }}
'''Brazilian Sign Language''' ({{langx|pt|Língua Brasileira de Sinais}} {{IPA|pt|ˈlĩɡwɐ bɾaziˈlejɾɐ dʒi siˈnajs|}}) is the [[sign language]] used by [[deaf communities]] of [[Brazil]]. It is also known in short as '''Libras''' ({{IPA|pt|ˈlibɾɐs|pron}}) and variously abbreviated as '''LSB''', '''LGB''' or '''LSCB''' ({{lang|pt|Língua de Sinais das Cidades Brasileiras}}; "Brazilian Cities Sign Language").<ref name="Brito Langevin">Ferreira-Brito, Lucinda and Langevin, Rémi (1994), The Sublexical Structure of a Sign Language, ''Mathématiques, Informatique et Sciences Humaines'' 32:125, 1994, pp. 17–40</ref>
==Recognition and status== Brazilian Sign Language is well-established; several dictionaries, instructional videos and a number of articles on the linguistic features of the language have been published. It has dialects across Brazil reflecting regional and sociocultural differences.
A strong [[legal recognition of sign languages|sign language law]] was passed by the [[National Congress of Brazil]] on April 24, 2002, and (in 2005) is in the process of being implemented.<ref name="LIBRAS law">[http://www.libras.org.br/leilibras.htm Libras law] (in Portuguese) {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050426151659/http://www.libras.org.br/leilibras.htm |date=April 26, 2005}}</ref> The law mandates the use of Brazilian Sign Language in education and government services. [[File:Escola Estadual de Educação Especial Dr. Reinaldo Fernando Cóser 02.jpg|thumb|Signwriting used on outside of school for deaf in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul]]
Educational approaches have evolved from [[oralism]] to [[Total Communication]] and [[Bilingual-bicultural education|bilingualism]].
In addition to being recognized nationally since 2002,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220915024332/https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2022-04/lei-que-reconhece-libras-como-lingua-oficial-do-pais-completa-20-anos Lei que institui a Língua Brasileira de Sinais completa 20 anos], Agência Brasil</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220915023008/https://www.matadesaojoao.ba.leg.br/institucional/noticias/lei-que-reconhece-libras-como-lingua-oficial-do-pais-completa-20-anos Lei que reconhece Libras como língua oficial do país completa 20 anos], Câmara Municipal de Mata de São João</ref> Libras has also been made official at the municipal level in [[Belo Horizonte]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220915023444/https://www.otempo.com.br/eleicoes/vereadores-aprovam-lei-que-reconhece-libras-como-lingua-oficial-de-bh-1.2732390 Vereadores aprovam lei que reconhece Libras como língua oficial de BH], O Tempo</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220915023448/https://www.cmbh.mg.gov.br/comunica%C3%A7%C3%A3o/not%C3%ADcias/2022/09/reconhecimento-oficial-de-libras-pelo-munic%C3%ADpio-%C3%A9-aprovado-em-1%C2%BA-turno Reconhecimento oficial de Libras pelo Município é aprovado em 1º turno], Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte</ref> [[Curitiba]],<ref>[https://leismunicipais.com.br/a1/pr/c/curitiba/lei-ordinaria/2021/1583/15823/lei-ordinaria-n-15823-2021-reconhece-a-lingua-brasileira-de-sinais-libras-no-municipio-de-curitiba?r=c Lei Nº 15.823, de 06 de abril de 2021], Leis Municipais</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220915023918/https://www.curitiba.pr.leg.br/informacao/noticias/cmc-aprova-reconhecimento-da-lingua-brasileira-de-sinais-em-curitiba Aprovado reconhecimento da Língua Brasileira de Sinais em Curitiba]</ref> [[Ouro Preto]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230521234622/https://www.librasol.com.br/aprovado-projeto-de-lei-que-reconhece-oficialmente-a-libras-em-ouro-preto/ Aprovado projeto de Lei que reconhece oficialmente a Libras em Ouro Preto], LIBRASOL</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230521234651/https://cmop.mg.gov.br/aprovado-projeto-de-lei-que-reconhece-oficialmente-a-libras-em-ouro-preto/ Aprovado Projeto de Lei que reconhece oficialmente a Libras em Ouro Preto], Câmara Municipal de Ouro Preto</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230521235227/https://mundodosinconfidentes.com.br/aprovado-projeto-de-lei-que-reconhece-oficialmente-a-libras-em-ouro-preto/ Aprovado Projeto de Lei que reconhece oficialmente a Libras em Ouro Preto], Mundo dos Inconfidentes</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230521235237/https://jornaloespeto.com.br/2022/10/13/aprovado-projeto-de-lei-que-reconhece-oficialmente-a-lingua-brasileira-de-sinais-libras-em-ouro-preto/ Aprovado Projeto de Lei que reconhece oficialmente a Língua Brasileira de Sinais (Libras) em Ouro Preto], O Espeto</ref> and [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]].<ref>[https://leismunicipais.com.br/a/ba/s/salvador/lei-ordinaria/2010/786/7862/lei-ordinaria-n-7862-2010-reconhece-oficialmente-no-municipio-de-salvador-como-meio-de-comunicacao-objetiva-e-de-uso-corrente-a-lingua-brasileira-de-sinais-libras-e-dispoe-sobre-a-sua-implantacao-como-segunda-lingua-oficial-para-surdos-na-rede-publica-municipal-de-ensino Lei Nº 7862/2010]</ref> In [[Rio de Janeiro]], the teaching of Libras was made official in the curriculum of the municipal school system.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220915024920/http://www.camara.rio/comunicacao/noticias/1104-agora-e-lei-escolas-da-rede-municipal-terao-ensino-de-libras Agora é lei: Escolas da rede municipal terão ensino de Libras]</ref><ref>[http://aplicnt.camara.rj.gov.br/APL/Legislativos/contlei.nsf/7cb7d306c2b748cb0325796000610ad8/17a7e46caf8c34aa0325885300478a93?OpenDocument Lei nº 7391/2022, de 31 de maio de 2022]</ref>
April 24th was made official as the National Day of Brazilian Sign Language.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220915030144/https://www12.senado.leg.br/radio/1/noticia/2022/04/20/24-de-abril-e-o-dia-nacional-da-lingua-brasileira-de-sinais 24 de abril é o Dia Nacional da Língua Brasileira de Sinais]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220915030559/https://www.camara.leg.br/noticias/448039-comunidade-surda-comemora-sancao-do-dia-nacional-da-libras/ Comunidade surda comemora sansão do Dia Nacional da Libras]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220915030555/https://www.altafloresta.mt.leg.br/imprensa/noticias/24-de-abril-dia-nacional-da-lingua-brasileira-de-sinais-1 24 de abril - Dia Nacional da Língua Brasileira de Sinais]</ref>
==Alphabet== Libras [[fingerspelling]] uses a [[one-handed manual alphabet]] similar to that used by the [[French Sign Language]] family.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.libras.org.br/Thumbnails/FrameSet.htm |title=Libras manual alphabet |access-date=2005-12-26 |archive-date=2006-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207165026/http://www.libras.org.br/Thumbnails/FrameSet.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
There are 44 distinct [[handshape]]s used in the language.<ref name="Brito Langevin" />
==Writing== [[Sutton SignWriting]] is the dominant writing system in Brazil.<ref>{{cite journal|last1= Costa|first1=Edivaldo da Silva|date= 2018|title=Tendências atuais da pesquisa em escrita de sinais no Brasil |journal=Revista Diálogos (RevDia) |volume=6|issue=1|pages= 23–41 |issn=2319-0825}}</ref> A master's in linguistics dissertation titled "A arte de escrever em Libras" by Gabriela Otaviani Barbosa found that SignWriting is used in 18 Federal Universities and in 12 public schools in Brazil.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barbosa |first= Gabriela Otaviani |date=2017 |title= A arte de escrever em libras |url= https://repositorio.ufsc.br/handle/123456789/177791}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A vida em Libras – Signwriting – Escrita de Sinais |url= http://tvines.ines.gov.br/?p=16704 |website=TV Ines}}</ref>
Historical efforts were commonly transcribed using Portuguese words, written in upper case, to stand for each equivalent Libras morpheme.<ref>{{cite journal|last1= Paiva|first1=Francisco Aulísio dos Santos|last2=De Martino|first2=José Mario|last3=Barbosa|first3=Plínio Almeida|last4=Benetti|first4=Ângelo|last5=Silva|first5=Ivani Rodrigues|date=2016|title=Um sistema de transcrição para língua de sinais brasileira: o caso de um avatar|journal=Revista do GEL|volume=13|issue=3|pages=13, 21–24|doi= 10.21165/gel.v13i3.1440|doi-access= free}}</ref> Transcription of Libras signs using [[SignWriting]] has been in place since at least 1997 with the SignNet Project in Porto Alegre and Fernando Capovilla's dictionaries in São Paulo. The University of Santa Catarina at Florianopolis (UFSC) has required courses in SignWriting as the preferred form of LIBRAS transcription.
SignWriting is cited as being useful in the pedagogy of young children.<ref>{{Cite journal |title= Aquisição da Escrita de Sinais por Crianças Surdas através de ambientes digitais |url= http://www.signwriting.org/archive/docs6/sw0580_BR_Aquisicao_Escrita_Sinais_2007.pdf |journal= Sign Writing}}</ref>
The [[Federal University of Santa Catarina]] has accepted a dissertation written in Brazilian Sign Language using Sutton SignWriting for a master's degree in linguistics. The dissertation "A escrita de expressões não manuais gramaticais em sentenças da Libras pelo Sistema signwriting" by João Paulo Ampessan states that "the data indicate the need for [non-manual expressions] usage in writing sign language".<ref>{{Cite journal |last= Ampessan |first=João Paulo |title=A escrita de expressões não manuais gramaticais em sentenças da Libras pelo sistema Signwriting |url= https://repositorio.ufsc.br/bitstream/handle/123456789/180688/351070.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |journal=Repositório UFSC}}</ref>
== In film == In September 2017, new Libras accessibility requirements took effect in Brazil mandating availability of Brazilian Sign Language for films shown in Brazilian [[Movie theater|movie theaters]]. Sign language is displayed to moviegoers on a [[second screen]] device.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accessibility & The Audio Track File |url=https://cinepedia.com/accessibility/accessibility-the-audio-track-file/ |access-date=14 November 2023 |website=Cinepedia}}</ref> Sign language is stored as a Sign Language Video track in the [[Digital Cinema Package]] (DCP), synchronized with the rest of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Sep 2017 |title=Deluxe Launches First Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) Localization Service Outside Brazil |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deluxe-launches-first-brazilian-sign-language-libras-localization-service-outside-brazil-300521137.html |access-date=14 Nov 2023 |website=Cision PR Newswire |publisher=Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. through Cision PR Newswire}}</ref> Sign Language Video tracks have no audio and are encoded as a [[VP9]]-compressed video encoded in PCM audio stored in Sound Track 15 of the DCP.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-29 |title=Recommended Guidelines for Digital Cinema Source and DCP Content Delivery |url=http://www.deluxecdn.com/dcinema/support/Deluxe_Technicolor_Source_Delivery_Guidelines_1.0.pdf |access-date=2023-11-14 |publisher=Deluxe Technicolor Digital Cinema}}</ref>
==Deaf and sign language organizations==
The most important deaf organization is FENEIS, the ''Federação Nacional de Educação e Integração dos Surdos'' (National Federation of Deaf Education and Integration). There are a number of regional organizations in [[Curitiba]], [[Caxias do Sul]] and [[Rio Grande do Sul]].
==Classification== Wittmann (1991)<ref name= "nou-la.org">[[Henri Wittmann|Wittmann, Henri]] (1991). "[http://www.nou-la.org/ling/1991a-class.pdf Classification linguistique des langues signées non vocalement]." Revue québécoise de linguistique théorique et appliquée 10:1.215–88.</ref> posits that Brazilian Sign Language is a language isolate (a 'prototype' sign language), though one developed through [[stimulus diffusion]] from an existing sign language, likely [[Portuguese Sign Language]] and/or [[French Sign Language]].
==See also== *[[Ka'apor Sign Language]], an unrelated Indigenous sign language of Brazil.
==Footnotes== <references/>
==References== *Gama, Flausine José da Costa: Iconographia dos Signaes dos Surdos-Mudos.[Iconography of Signs for the Deaf-Mute]. Rio de Janeiro : E.+H.Laemmert 1875 *Capovilla, F. C., and W. D. Raphael, eds. 2001. ''Dicionário enciclopédico ilustrado trilíngüe da Língua de Sinais Brasileira: Vols. 1 (Sinais de A a L) & 2 (Sinais de M a Z)''. [Trilingual illustrated encyclopedic dictionary of Brazilian Sign Language, Vols. 1 and 2] São Paulo: Edusp, FAPESP, Fundação Vitae, Feneis, Brasil Telecom. Volume One: {{ISBN|85-314-0600-5}} Volume Two: {{ISBN|85-314-0603-X}} *de Souza, Guilherme Lourenco. "Verb agreement in Brazilian Sign Language: morphophonology, syntax & semantics." (2018). Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais: doctoral dissertation. *Lourenço, Guilherme. "Verb agreement in Brazilian Sign Language: Morphophonology, syntax & semantics." ''Sign Language & Linguistics'' 22, no. 2 (2019): 275–281. *Xavier, André Nogueira and Sherman Wilcox. 2014. Necessity and possibility modals in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). ''Linguistic Typology'' 18(3): 449 – 488.
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[[Category:Sign language isolates]] [[Category:Languages of Brazil]] [[Category:Deaf culture in Brazil]] [[Category:Sign languages of Brazil]]