Sign language

What it is and how you can learn it

British Sign Language

Were RNID, the charity working to create a world where deafness or hearing loss do not limit or determine opportunity, and where people value their hearing. www.rnid.org.uk

This leaflet is for you if youre thinking about learning British Sign Language (BSL).
You should read this leaflet if you want to know: how to learn BSL how people who are deaf communicate more about sign language in different countries and regional variations in BSL. We also include BSL signs that are useful in everyday life, and the fingerspelling alphabet.

How should I learn BSL?

It is impossible to learn to sign from a leaflet, a book, video or CD-ROM. If you would like to learn BSL, the best way is to take a course taught by a qualified sign language teacher. We can arrange for an experienced trainer to 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 in your area. 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 aid your learning and test yourself with our interactive quizzes. See page 19 for more information.
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British Sign Language What is BSL?

In the UK, people who are deaf use various methods of communication including speech and lip reading, but BSL is the most widely used method of signed communication. Some people 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.

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 all signs, but the lip pattern is different.

What kind of language is BSL?

BSL evolved naturally, as all languages do. It uses both manual and non-manual components handshapes and movements, facial expression, 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?

Uncle

Aunt

Nephew

Niece

Name

What

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.

British Sign Language

Fingerspelling alphabet
a b c D

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.

V
6

Z
7

British Sign Language

Greetings

British Sign Language

Greetings

Hello

Please

How are you?

Questions

Thank you

Question

Ask (directional verb)

Sorry
8

Goodbye

Who

What
9

British Sign Language

Questions

British Sign Language

Feelings

Where

When

Good

Bad

Why/Because

How

Happy

Sad

Feelings

Family

Like
10

Dislike

Family

Husband/Wife
11

British Sign Language

Family

British Sign Language

Food and drink

Mother

Father

Biscuit

Chips

Brother

Sister

Tea

Coffee

Food and drink

Sandwich
12

Fruit

Water

Wine
13

British Sign Language

Time

British Sign Language

Time

Morning

Tomorrow

Night

Yesterday

Work

Today
14

Work

Office
15

British Sign Language

Work

British sign language Want to know more?

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Complete the form on reverse and send to our Freepost address. visit www.rnid.org.uk/leafletjoin or call 0845 634 0679 (tel/textphone) or email membership@rnid.org.uk Contact us for more information: Membership Team RNID 19-23 Featherstone Street London EC1Y 8SL Tel/textphone 0845 6340679 membership@rnid.org.uk www.rnid.org.uk/leafletjoin Computer
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British Sign Language Yes, I want to join RNID

Title (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss) _________ First name _____________________ Surname _____________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Postcode ____________________ Email _________________________ Telephone ____________________ Textphone _____________________ Please accept my membership payment: (tick relevant boxes) 22 standard rate 15 if you are retired, unwaged or a full-time student

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) Deafblind fingerspelling alphabet (card) communication tips (card) A double-sided card with tips on one side if youre deaf or hard of hearing, and tips on the other side if youre hearing and speaking to someone whos deaf. communication support services (leaflet) 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 on audio cassette, 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. Now in its fourth edition, the book is bigger and better, with brand new 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 RNID Products on 01733 361199 (telephone), 01733 238020 (textphone), email solutions@rnid.org.uk or shop online at www.rnid.org.uk/buystarttosign

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Were RNID, the charity working to create a world where deafness or hearing loss do not limit or determine opportunity, and where people value their hearing.
There are a number of ways to support us. To find out more: Go to

British sign language

www.rnid.org.uk
Information line

Telephone 0808 808 0123 Textphone 0808 808 9000 SMS 0780 0000 360
(costs vary depending on your network) Or write to us

informationline@rnid.org.uk
19-23 Featherstone Street London EC1Y 8SL Fax 020 7296 8199

3488/0310 Photography Tim Kavanagh The Royal National Institute for Deaf People. Registered Address 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL Registered charity No. 207720.A company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No. 454169.