Alternate Names: Lengua de Señas del Paraguay, Lengua de señas paraguaya, LSPY
Genealogy:
Demographics: 15,000 (2009 L. Parks), increasing.
Language Use: LSPY is the indigenous sign language of the Paraguayan deaf ethnolinguistic community. Deaf Paraguayans generally acquire LSPY from friends during school (outside of the classroom), in deaf associations, or religious meetings. Deaf associations and religious meetings use LSPY in their formal proceedings and deaf people use LSPY in their casual interactions. LSPY is the only sign language used by most deaf Paraguayans, although some living near the borders of Brazil also use Brazilian Sign Language [bzs] as L2.
Language Development: Poetry. TV. Dictionary. Bible portions: 2011.
Nation of Origin: Paraguay
Other Comments: Local deaf people indicate that early roots of LSPY were influenced by Uruguayan Sign Language.