British Sign Language Where and how to learn it SIGN HERE

Transcription

1 Where and how to learn it SIGN HERE

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

3 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. We ll 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 3

4 use Sign Supported English (SSE), which is not a language in its own right, but more a kind of English with signs. It s 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 4

5 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 5

6 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. 6

7 British Sign Language Fingerspelling alphabet A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 7

8 Greetings Hello Please Thank you Sorry Goodbye 8

9 Greetings How are you? Questions Question Ask (directional verb) Who What 9

10 Questions Where When Why/Because How Feelings Like Dislike 10

11 Feelings Good Bad Happy Sad Family Family Husband/Wife 11

12 Family Mother Father Brother Sister Food and drink Sandwich Fruit 12

13 Food and drink Biscuit Chips Tea Coffee Water Wine 13

14 Time Morning Night Today 14

15 Time Tomorrow Yesterday Work Work Office 15

16 Work Textphone Telephone Computer 16

17 Want to know more? Are you affected by hearing loss or tinnitus? Joining Action on Hearing Loss is a great way to: New NHS hearing aids Cochlear implants latest research Richard Wilson s hearing check The Archbishop of Canterbury keep updated on developments find out about the new products that can help hear about the latest information and advice share your experiences of hearing loss with other members. As a member we ll update you six times a year, through our award-winning membership magazine. If you re retired, membership costs just 15 a year. Dr Rowan Williams June/July 2011 How to join Complete the form on the reverse and return to us. Alternatively: visit or call (telephone) or ext (textphone) membership@hearingloss.org.uk Contact us for more information: Action on Hearing Loss Featherstone Street London EC1Y 8SL membership@hearingloss.org.uk

18 Yes, I want to join Title (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss) First name Surname Address Postcode Telephone Textphone Please accept my membership payment: (tick relevant boxes) 22 standard rate 15 if you are retired, unwaged or a full-time student In addition, I would like to make a donation of Payment method: I enclose a cheque/po made payable to Action on Hearing Loss (delete as appropriate) I prefer to pay by credit card/debit card/charitycard (delete as appropriate) Card number Start date Issue number (if present) Signature Expiry date Security number (last 3 digits on signature strip) Please return this form to: Action on Hearing Loss, FREEPOST LON13186, London EC1B 1AL Please tick here if you would like to receive s from us including your membership every two months. Occasionally, we may want to let you know about the work we are doing. If you would prefer not to be contacted in this way, please tick this box. Occasionally, we will allow other organisations to contact you, but if you would prefer not to be contacted, please tick this box.

19 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 you re deaf or have a hearing loss and tips on the other side if you re 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 you d 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 there s lots of information about the development, structure and grammar of BSL. Buy the book and you ll 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 (telephone), (textphone), solutions@hearingloss.org.uk or shop online at

20 We re the charity taking action on hearing loss since We can t do this without your help. To find out more about what we do and how you can support us go to Telephone Textphone information@hearingloss.org.uk Action on Hearing Loss is the trading name of The Royal National Institute for Deaf People. A registered charity in England and Wales (207720) and Scotland (SC038926). A0006/0511