Irish Sign Language

The indigenous sign language of the Deaf community in Ireland, distinct from both English and Irish (Gaelic) spoken languages and from British Sign Language (BSL). Like all sign languages, ISL uses manual features (hand shapes, movements, and positions) and non-manual features (facial expressions, head movements, body posture) to convey meaning, with non-manual features carrying up to 70% of a sign's meaning. ISL was officially recognised as a native language of Ireland in the Irish Sign Language Act of 2017. The average reading age of Deaf school leavers in Ireland is comparable to that of an 8-9 year old hearing child, highlighting the importance of providing information in sign language format rather than relying solely on written text.