Quebec Sign Language, known in French as Langue des Signes Québécoise and typically abbreviated LSQ, is a sign language used in Canada. Most speakers are located in Quebec, but a few are scattered in major cities in the rest of the country.

LSQ is closely related to both American Sign Language and French Sign Language. Due to segregation by gender in deaf education, males and females use slightly different forms of LSQ. The female form was influenced more by ASL while the male form was more influenced by LSF. Although ASL is spoken in Anglophone parts of Quebec, it is unusual for a deaf child to learn both ASL and LSQ.

Although approximately 10% of the population of Quebec is deaf or hearing impaired, it is estimated that only 50,000 to 60,000 children speak LSQ as their native language.

External Links

http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=fcs

http://auquebec.free.fr/surdite.php (in French)

http://www.surdite.org/ (in French)