Actually the Woodford paper in its very title indicates that the Somali Sign Language is a new sign language It also states that the Somali man who developed SSL not three people was himself schooled in the Kenyan Sign Language and that SSL still shows its KSL roots when demonstrated That s speaks to influence not singularity Woodford also indicates that SSL is culturally distinct from KSL see above This is obvious considering the fact that KSL appears to be based on the Swahili language and culture not the Somali language and culture SSL is also tied to ethnic Somali nationalism a fact which you also appear to be challenging Lastly by citing Somaliland separately from Somalia you are already insinuating that it is a separate country when the Woodford paper itself make its clear that it is internationally recognized as a region in Somalia Borama is also disputed between Somaliland and Awdalland the actual natives of Borama which is another reason why we indeed can not take sides on the issue