Montesayette Sign Language
| Montesayette Sign Language | |
|---|---|
 LSM in Quebecshirite manual alphabet | |
| Native to | Montesayette |
| Date | 1971 |
Native speakers |
|
| LSMwrite | |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Montesayette |
| Regulated by | Ministry of Health and Human Services |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | mcs |
Montesayette Sign Language (Quebecshirite: Langue des Signes Montesayette, LSM) is the native sign language used by the deaf and impaired of hearing in Montesayette. The Ministry of Health and Human Services formalized it in 1971 after decades of unregulated use. LSM is a complete and organized visual language that employs both manual and non-manual features. It is the first formalized sign language in Terraconserva, as well as the first to be adopted as an official language by a national government. Montesayette has long since embraced LSM as a second language, with strong government support since its formalization in 1971.
LSM has its origins in the 19th century, evolving from the Quebecshirite Sign Language family through language contact. Over time, LSM's usage spread through schools for hard of hearing and deaf community organizations. In 1971, the Senate Culture, Community, and Youth Committee responded to deaf community efforts by conducting a comprehensive review and establishing standardization agreements. The Ministry of Health and Human Services officially codified LSM as the national sign language that same year.
Montesayette is home to 4.32 million deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, with 2.61 million (60.42%) knowing sign language. Additionally, approximately 5.86 million Montesayetteans (about 9% of the population) have indicated familiarity with LSM as a second language, often pursuing this for personal reasons or to fulfill graduation credit requirements in schools and colleges. To support language learning, the Montesayette government offers free courses in sign language and LSM, as well as subsidies to educational institutions providing language classes. Furthermore, the government has established an interpreter network to assist those with hearing loss in accessing public services.
The high prevalence of LSM users, both native and as a second language, is attributed to its status as a national official language. In addition, it has received consistent state support since its formalization in 1971. LSM's popularity has grown further with its use in social media and online platforms. Educational institutions are increasingly offering LSM courses, contributing to a growing number of literacy levels.
