Peruvian Sign Language

{{Short description|Deaf sign language of Peru}}

{{Infobox language

| name = Peruvian Sign Language

| states = Peru

| speakers = {{sigfig|10447|2}}

| date = 2017 census

| ref = Perú: resultados definitivos. Vol. I. Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática. Lima, October 2018 http://censo2017.inei.gob.pe/

| familycolor = sign language

| fam1 = Andean

| fam2 = Peruvian–Inmaculada Sign

| iso3 = prl

| glotto = peru1235

| glottorefname = Peruvian Sign Language

}}

Peruvian Sign Language ({{Langx|es|Lengua de señas peruana}}, LSP) is a Peruvian language created and used by the Deaf community in Peru. It has been officially recognized by Peruvian law since 2010.Ley 29535, que otorga reconocimiento oficial a la Lengua de Señas Peruanas http://docs.peru.justia.com/federales/leyes/29535-may-20-2010.pdf It is not clear how many users there are in the country; the most recent general census registered little more than 10,000,Perú: resultados definitivos.'' Vol. I. Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática. Lima, October 2018 http://censo2017.inei.gob.pe/ but the more specific census on people with special needs found around half a million people with hearing disabilities.Encuesta Nacional sobre la Discapacidad, 2012 https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1171/ENEDIS%202012%20-%20COMPLETO.pdf

Variations exist in several geographically and among generations and religious groups,{{cite journal |last1=Parks |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Parks |first2=Jason |title=A Sociolinguistic Profile of the Peruvian Deaf Community |journal=Sign Language Studies |date=2010 |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=409–441 |doi=10.1353/sls.0.0054 |jstor=26190600 |s2cid=144702529 }}{{cite journal |last1=Clark |first1=Brenda |title=Sign Language Varieties in Lima, Peru |journal=Sign Language Studies |date=2017 |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=222–264 |id={{Project MUSE|648904}} |doi=10.1353/sls.2017.0003 |s2cid=152160864 }} while the variety used in Lima is the most prestigious one. The government has tried to integrate deaf students into mainstream educational programs with no real success, resulting in low levels of education for deaf students.{{cite journal |last1=Goico |first1=Sara Alida |title=The Impact of 'Inclusive' Education on the Language of Deaf Youth in Iquitos, Peru |journal=Sign Language Studies |date=2019 |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=348–374 |id={{Project MUSE|724363}} |doi=10.1353/sls.2019.0001 |s2cid=181911057 }} On the other hand, deaf social gatherings and private schools keep the Peruvian Sign Language strong.