Recognition of sign languages

[daisuke at YAHOO.COM]

Hello.

U.K. and Mexico recently recognized their sign languages as languages for the
deaf, and my colleague in Japan wants to know the latest information regarding
what sign languages have been legally recognized as languages for the deaf or
as national sign languages.

He has found an article by Verena Krausneker (reported at the EUD Celebratory
Conference in April, 2000) at the following site:

http://www.ea.nl/EUDmail/v.krausneker.htm

15 countries are included in the list, and 5 more are mentioned in the text.

His questions are:

1) Is there any other SL that has been legally recognized as the national sign
language?

2) Is there a more complete, recent list or report regarding SLs that have been
legally recognized as national sign languages?  According to him, the WFD site
doesn't give such information.

Thanks in advance.


Daisuke