British Sign Language Where and how to learn it

SIGN HERE

In this leaflet we explain what British Sign Language is and how to learn it. But if youve got more questions, our friendly helpline team is waiting to answer your call or email.

Telephone 0808 808 0123 Textphone 0808 808 9000 Email information@hearingloss.org.uk

British Sign Language

Are you thinking about learning British Sign Language (BSL)? Read this leaflet to find out: how to learn BSL how people who are deaf communicate about sign language in different countries and regional variations in BSL. Well show you essential BSL signs used in everyday life, and the fingerspelling alphabet.

How should I learn BSL?

It is very difficult to learn to sign from a leaflet, book, video or CD-ROM alone. The best way to learn BSL is to take a course taught by a qualified sign language teacher. Our experienced trainers can come to where you work and teach an introductory Start to Sign course. Contact our Information Line (see back page) about this and for details of BSL courses near you. The photographs in this leaflet will introduce you to BSL. They are taken from our Start to Sign! book. Buying the book gives you free access to see the moving signs online. You can also support your learning and test yourself with our interactive quizzes. See page 5 for more information.

What is BSL?
In the UK, people who are deaf use various methods of communication including speech and lipreading, but BSL is the most widely used method of signed communication. Some people www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk 3

British Sign Language

use Sign Supported English (SSE), which is not a language in its own right, but more a kind of English with signs. Its difficult to say how many people in the UK use BSL as their first or preferred language. Estimates vary from 50,000 to 70,000.

What kind of language is BSL?

BSL has evolved naturally, as all languages do. It uses a combination of handshapes and movements, lip patterns, facial expressions and shoulder movement. BSL is structured in a completely different way to English. In BSL you start with the main subject or topic. After that, you refer to something about the topic. For example: English What is your name? BSL Name what?

Name

What

British Sign Language

Lip patterns
Lip patterns are a very important part of BSL. The signs for uncle, aunt, nephew and niece illustrate this. The handshape and movement are the same for these four signs, but the lip pattern is different.

Uncle

Aunt

Nephew

Niece

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British Sign Language

Is sign language the same around the world?

No, sign languages are as varied as spoken languages. Different countries have their own unique sign language, but some sign languages do have a similar structure. BSL is not universal it is only used in the UK. In Northern Ireland, people who are deaf prefer to use Irish Sign Language (ISL) as well as BSL.

Is BSL the same across the country?

No, there are regional variations in sign language just as there are in spoken languages. In different parts of the country, signs will have different meanings, or there will be different signs for one word. For example, there are 10 to 12 variations for the word holiday.

What is fingerspelling?
Fingerspelling is the BSL alphabet. Certain words usually names of people and places are spelled out on fingers. However, fingerspelling alone is not sign language. See opposite for the fingerspelling alphabet. We have cards, bookmarks and posters of the fingerspelling alphabet (sometimes called the manual alphabet). We also have cards of the Welsh, Irish and deafblind fingerspelling alphabets. Contact the Information Line (see back cover) for copies.

British Sign Language

Fingerspelling alphabet

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British Sign Language

Greetings

Hello

Please

Thank you

Sorry 8

Goodbye

British Sign Language

Greetings

How are you?

Questions

Question

Ask (directional verb)

Who

What www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk 9

British Sign Language

Questions

Where

When

Why/Because

How

Feelings

Like 10

Dislike

British Sign Language

Feelings

Good

Bad

Happy

Sad

Family

Family

Husband/Wife www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk 11

British Sign Language

Family

Mother

Father

Brother

Sister

Food and drink

Sandwich 12

Fruit

British Sign Language

Food and drink

Biscuit

Chips

Tea

Coffee

Water

Wine www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk 13

British Sign Language

Time

Morning

Night

Today 14

British Sign Language

Time

Tomorrow

Yesterday

Work

Work

Office www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk 15

British Sign Language

Work

Textphone

Telephone

Email

Computer 16

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British Sign Language

Where can I get further information?

You might find some of our other factsheets or leaflets useful: Fingerspelling alphabet
(bookmark, card or poster)

Irish fingerspelling alphabet (card) Welsh fingerspelling alphabet

(card) (card)

Deafblind fingerspelling alphabet

Communication tips (card) A double-sided card with tips on one side if youre deaf or have a hearing loss and tips on the other side if youre hearing and speaking to someone who is deaf. Training as a British Sign Language/English interpreter (factsheet) Working with a British Sign Language/ English interpreter (factsheet) Contact our Information Line (see back page) for copies of these. And ask us if youd like any of our factsheets and leaflets in audio format, in Braille or in large print. Start to Sign! is our British Sign Language (BSL) support book for beginners with FREE online access to BSL video clips. The book features colour photographs of more than 800 signs. Plus theres lots of information about the development, structure and grammar of BSL. Buy the book and youll be able to watch the moving signs FREE. You can aid your learning and test yourself with our interactive quizzes. To order Start to Sign!, please contact Action on Hearing Loss on 01733 361199 (telephone), 01733 238020 (textphone), email solutions@hearingloss.org.uk or shop online at www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/buystarttosign

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