British Sign Language (BSL) is the primary language of the Deaf community in the UK, with its own grammar and syntax. It uses handshapes, movements, and facial expressions to convey meaning. BSL's history, its two-handed fingerspelling system, and its differences from American Sign Language (ASL) are explored, highlighting its cultural significance and the importance of its recognition for effective communication.
Show More
Deaf individuals in Britain have been using manual communication for centuries
Influence of Thomas Braidwood's School for the Deaf
The incorporation of manual communication at Thomas Braidwood's school contributed to the development of BSL
BSL gained official recognition as a language in 2003
BSL's linguistic structure is characterized by its use of visual-spatial modality
BSL often uses a topic-comment sentence structure, with the topic established first followed by the comment or predicate
Facial expressions and body posture are used in BSL to convey grammatical information
BSL's phonology is based on parameters such as handshape, location, movement, orientation, and facial expressions
BSL has a unique two-handed fingerspelling system for the English alphabet
BSL uses a combination of individual signs and movements for numbers, with a two-handed approach for numbers beyond twenty
BSL and ASL have distinct sets of signs, grammar, and cultural nuances, with only about 31% of signs being similar
BSL and ASL differ in their use of fingerspelling, with BSL using it sparingly and ASL incorporating it more frequently
The differences between BSL and ASL highlight the importance of recognizing each sign language as a unique linguistic entity
00
Primary language of UK Deaf community
BSL is the main language of Deaf people in England, Scotland, and Wales.
01
BSL distinctiveness from spoken English
BSL has unique vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, not based on spoken English.
02
BSL communication methods
BSL uses handshapes, movements, facial expressions, and body language.
