Here are the 10 facts about BSL you need to know before starting your learning journey. Whatever your reason for wanting to learn sign language, finding out some background information will help you decide the best way to learn and the type of course (online or classroom-based) you wish to do.
Table of Contents
- Fact 1. British sign language is not universal:
- Fact 2. British Sign Language has regional ‘accents’:
- Fact 3. British Sign Language is a recognised language:
- Fact 4. Babies can learn sign language:
- Fact 5. It is easy(..ish) to learn sign language:
- Fact 6. Not all deaf people use sign language:
- Fact 7. Knowing some sign language is not the same as using it:
- Fact 8. Native sign language tutors teach sign language:
- Fact 9. Sign Language jobs:
- Fact 10. Makaton is not BSL:
- 10 Facts about BSL- complete!
Fact 1. British sign language is not universal:
There is a misconception that sign language is universal. Signed languages are as varied as spoken languages. Some signed languages are similar to each other e.g. (AusLan) Australian Sign language is similar to British Sign Language (BSL) or they can be completely different e.g. American Sign Language (ASL).
There is also a form of international sign language (ISL) or Gestuno. ISL enables sign language users from all over the world to communicate with each other. However, it is not a language as such, more like a Pidgin language that tends to rely on gestures. Gestuno borrows elements of sign language from different sign languages across the globe.
Fact 2. British Sign Language has regional ‘accents’:
People from the UK have different accents e.g. someone from Yorkshire sounds different to someone from Cornwall or Newcastle. BSL is no different. There are regional variations for British Sign Language too. Be aware that some online courses have limited use. For example, you might live in Wales but learn regional signs from London. So, having a conversation with a native sign language user from your own (Welsh) town will be difficult if you learn signs from a different region.
Fact 3. British Sign Language is a recognised language:
British Sign Language (BSL) is a recognised language of the UK as of March 2003. BSL incorporates all the usual elements of language – verbs, nouns, sentence structure and so on. However, to the untrained eye, you will not see the complexity of sign language.
Many people have difficulty understanding that using sign language requires no sound but relies heavily on body movements, facial expressions and the use of 3-dimensional space. For example, you smile when you are happy and frown when you are annoyed. Sign language relies on subtle visual cues for linguistic expression. This cannot be learned from a YouTube clip. It is something that needs to be practised with guidance from a qualified BSL tutor.
Fact 4. Babies can learn sign language:
Babies can learn sign language from as young as 6 months in hearing families. Where all family members are deaf and sign language users, babies learn to communicate much earlier – from around 8 weeks old. There is a myth that teaching babies to sign affects speech production later on. There has never been any evidence to support this notion. In fact, the opposite is true – research has shown that babies who learn sign language, get a head start and develop their linguistic abilities to a higher standard than those with no help from sign language.
Fact 5. It is easy(..ish) to learn sign language:
If babies can learn the basics, then anyone can learn. Adults may find sign language difficult to learn due to the fact that BSL is visual in nature, rather than based on sound. Many learners start learning BSL and find themselves asking lots of questions because learning sign language challenges assumptions about the nature of communication.
Some adults find it extremely difficult to learn BSL because they have difficulty expressing themselves more generally. Asking adults to use their whole upper body for communication (not just their mouth) is sometimes a step too far for some adults!
Fact 6. Not all deaf people use sign language:
Some deaf people attended mainstream schools and have never mixed with native sign language users. They may well have been the only person with some form of hearing loss within their school, college or university setting. Do not assume that because a person tells you that they are deaf, they use BSL.
Fact 7. Knowing some sign language is not the same as using it:
There are lots of Deaf people who experience the following scenario: a person has ‘learned’ some signs from watching YouTube clips and meets a deaf person. The learner mouths “I am learning to sign” while moving hands in a confusing manner. The deaf person waits .…. for a painfully slo..o..o..ow attempt at fingerspelling of the learner’s name. This happens A LOT.
Signing is like driving a car, you either have the skill or you don’t, anything in between is too painful to look at! Watching Youtube clips and practising what you see is not the same as practising real-life interaction. You are more likely to be greeted positively after a structured sign language course – you would have spent time with a qualified expert who will teach you properly. After all, their reputation and future career depend on it.
Fact 8. Native sign language tutors teach sign language:
Have you watched those Youtube clips that everyone thinks are great entertainment and fun to watch? Just an FYI – they are exactly that…… ‘entertainment’. The ‘signs’ in many clips bear no relation to real-life BSL.
Most of the video creators are hearing or hearing impaired (i.e learned BSL as a second language). They are teaching ‘SLinglish’ or Signed English. So, be aware that they are just entertainment clips and be careful not to waste your time or money on learning ‘BSL’ that has no value in the real world.
Native sign language users are generally deaf from birth and have used BSL for most, if not all of their lives i.e. they use it every day, so they are the real experts when it comes to learning and using BSL.
If you must use clips on YouTube, choose to watch an educational clip from an expert for practice. Initial instruction should always be with a native deaf tutor.
Fact 9. Sign Language jobs:
Being proficient in sign language can open up a range of career opportunities. For example, there are Sign Language interpreters, Communication Support Workers, Teachers of the Deaf, Audiologists and research roles that help us develop a better of understanding of sign linguistics and culture. Using sign language also enhances other careers. For example, there are a number of police forces that now have P.L.O.D (Police Liaison Officers for the Deaf) schemes where officers learn BSL so they can communicate with BSL users.
To be proficient in using BSL, you need a qualification from one of the two awarding bodies in the UK: Signature or iBSL. There are a number of sign language tutors who now provide classes online so finding an accredited tutor or organisation should be fairly easy. Be aware that if you have a certificate from any other awarding body, that it is nothing more than just a piece of paper.
Fact 10. Makaton is not BSL:
Makaton is not a language. The ‘signs’ are simplified versions of sign language. Makaton is the smoothie equivalent of Sign Language – elements of BSL have been used and mixed up to create visual gestures. BSL users do not recognise the signs used for Makaton and Makaton users have no idea what BSL is.
10 Facts about BSL- complete!
So, there you have it – learning British Sign Language can be fun and if you want to take your learning seriously, can lead to an enjoyable career. Taking the time to learn properly from actual experts will help you support your deaf friends and family properly and could enhance your career potential.
If you are looking for recommended resources to help you learn, why not check out our post on free resources. Or, you could even check out one of our recommended BSL courses!