Deaf People of Portugal Portuguese Sign Language Community

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Antonia Alexandra Allison
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language and culture. According to the European Union of the Deaf, the deaf population using sign language is approximately 11,500 (European Union of the Deaf).

1 Profile Year: 2012 People and Language Detail Report Language Name: Portuguese SL Community ISO Language Code: psr Primary Religion: Christianity Disciples (Matt 28:19): None Churches: 1 Photo Unavailable Scripture Status (Matt 28:20): No Scripture Population (date): 11,500 (2012) Deaf People of Portugal Portuguese Sign Language Community The deaf population of Portugal is proud of their language and culture. According to the European Union of the Deaf, the deaf population using sign language is approximately 11,500 (European Union of the Deaf). The largest deaf populations are located in Lisboa and Porto, with Lisboa being the larger of the two. Deaf people meet together on a regular basis for sports activities, association meetings, and other social gatherings. An unsuccessful attempt to make Lingua Gestual Portuguesa (Portuguese Sign Language, LGP) an official language of Portugal was made in (Portuguese Assembly of the Republic 2012) Hope remains strong to make LGP an officially recognized language in the future. Most deaf students are mainstreamed while other deaf students attend deaf only schools. Public schools either include deaf students in otherwise hearing classrooms or have separate classrooms for deaf students where an interpreter is provided most of the time. Within the past 4-6 years a few Universities have opened their doors more readily to deaf students. Professionally trained interpreters are available in Portugal but more are needed. Some interpreters are available to assist students in the classrooms but many deaf students have to pay for their own interpreters. Interpreter certification is available and has two main requirements according to a code of ethics included in legislation passed in The two requirements to be certified as an interpreter in Portugal are: training in a sign language, and completion of a collegelevel interpreting program using an approved curriculum Some materials have been produced in LGP including dictionaries, children s stories and educational materials. The deaf community indicates that their greatest needs are for more educational materials of all kinds to be produced, for more hearing people to learn sign language and for deaf people to take an active role in politics, government, creating awareness and leading within the deaf community.

2 Have They Heard The Gospel? Hindrances to Scripture Use Response to the Gospel Bilingualism Are Cross-Cultural Missionaries Needed? Number of Churches Number of Congregations Using the Local Language No Portuguese Sign Language Bible exists. One deaf church exists on the Madiera Islands. This church has expressed the need for the Bible in LGP. A few churches offer interpretation for deaf people in attendance. The deaf population of Portugal in general has a lower literacy rate than the hearing population. Church growth for the deaf community in Portugal is slow. Many deaf people are indifferent to church because most services are only offered in Portuguese The Deaf population uses LGP and Portuguese every day. A small percentage of the Deaf population also knows another signed language such as American Sign Language. Cross-cultural missionaries are present in Portugal with the goal of deaf ministry and planting a deaf church. They are in their second year of ministry. The deaf community could benefit greatly from the production of educational materials of all kinds. One One

3 Group Description Language and Linguistic Primary Language Attitude Towards MT Second Languages Other People Groups Using This Language as Their MT Linguistically Related Neighbor Languages Corrections to Ethnologue entry Lingua Gestual Portuguesa (LGP); Portuguese Sign Language Very receptive Portuguese (por); American Sign Language (ase) None Literacy Adult Literacy 93.3% Literacy Attitude Active Program Publications in MT Economics Avg. Annual Income Unemployment Rate 10.8% Occupation Modernization/Utilities Swedish Sign Language Portuguese (por), Mirandese (official, but locally used) Very receptive Children are taught to read and write Portuguese as part of the education program. Multiple dictionaries, children s literature, instructional and educational DVDs as well as other educational materials. The CIA World Factbook claims that 93.3% of the total Portuguese population over 15 can read and write. This number would be expected to be much lower for the deaf population. The deaf population as a whole has a positive attitude towards learning to read. They feel it is very beneficial. $8,000 US (2010 est.) Teacher, students and various other occupations TV, Electricity, running water, phones (texting), computer use (although many do not own one)

4 Community Development Clothing Transportation Infant Mortality Rate Life Expectancy Society Family Structures Social Habits/Groupings Identification with Nat'l Culture Self Image Attitude to Outsiders Attitude to Change Cultural Change Pace Local Lang Broadcasting Education/Youth Primary Schools Primary School Enrollment Secondary Schools Secondary School Enrollment Language of Instruction Language of Textbooks Unmixed Schools Problems/Needs Men: Jeans or dress pants, polo shirt; women: jeans, dress pants, dress or skirt with modest shirt or blouse Walking, bus, taxi, motorcycle, bicycle, train, car, metro Total: 4.66 deaths/1,000 live births Total population: years The infant mortality rate and life expectancy are based on the total population of Portugal not just the deaf population. Patrilineal Deaf groups get together for association meetings, to play sports, other clubs, or just social time. They interact socially based on proximity. Distinct Culture when it comes to deafness, but they are well integrated into the Portuguese culture Depressed Somewhat receptive to very receptive Somewhat receptive Slow At least one television station broadcasts with an interpreter or offers captioning for select programs. Portuguese Sign Language (psr) and Portuguese (por) Portuguese (por) There is a need for the production of more educational materials of all kinds. Most deaf students are mainstreamed in the public education system.

5 Religion Religions 1. Catholic 84.5% 2. Other 15.4% Primary Religion # of Adherents Christianity Percentages from CIA World Factbook

6 Status of Christianity Church Growth Reached Status Total Believers Pastors 1 Churches Verified History of Christianity Year Began 300 s Almost none By Whom Braga (Wikipedia 2012) Scripture/Literature/Media Status Translation Status Available Scripture Available Form Use of Translation/Scripture Use Hindrances to Distribution Uncertain Need Explained There is one known deaf church on the Madiera Islands. Definite need None Visual Currently the Portuguese Bible is used. Lack of funds to purchase a copy, little access to the internet Reason for Urgent Need Explained: The small Christian deaf community relies on others to tell them about the Bible and cannot read it or understand it fully for themselves. They have no access to the scripture in Portuguese Sign Language. Missions/Churches Working With Group Organization #1 Main ministry Evangelism/church-planting with the deaf. Use of local language Total expat missionaries 3 Total national missionaries 0 Total local workers 1 Total workers 4 Responsiveness Attitude to Christianity Attitude to Religious Change Yes, learning LGP Somewhat receptive Somewhat indifferent

7 Spiritual Climate and Openness Recommended Approaches or Specific Ways to Reach Group Current Needs Items for Prayers They do not realize their need for God. If distribution of materials could be promoted or backed by a deaf association and distributed by the deaf population. Acceptance of the product by the deaf community would be high. Professional development of educational materials in sign language, and the Bible in Portuguese Sign Language. Pray that God will work in the hearts of the Portuguese deaf Christians that they would share their faith in God with others. Pray for God to raise up a team of deaf Portuguese to work on a Bible Translation for their people group

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