Deaf culture is an integral part of Britain’s rich diversity. Deaf culture does not refer to the medical condition, rather it relates to the shared values, beliefs, traditions, and practices of the Deaf community. At the heart of the Deaf community, and the main use of communication is British Sign Language, which was recognised as an official language in its own right in 2003 by the UK government. British Sign Language, however, goes further than just a form of communication, it is a visual expression of their culture, identity, and heritage.
There exists a rich Deaf history within the United Kingdom, with the first school for the Deaf in the UK being established in 1760. The ‘Braidwood’s Academy for the Deaf and Dumb’ taught oral communication methods, which advocated for the use of spoken language in deaf education. Indeed, this acted as a suppression of sign language due to a prioritisation of speech and lipreading. This focus was detrimental to their education and cultural identity as communication became inaccessible for those who struggled to lipread.
Contributing to this focus on oralism is the infamous 1880 Milan Conference, which heavily threatened the longevity of BSL as a form of communication. The conference banned the use of sign languages in education across Europe, profoundly affecting Deaf communities in Britain, leading to decades of cultural suppression. By 1889, the focus on oralism, as opposed to manualism began to seep into policy in the United Kingdom as deaf schools became solely oral.
Today, there exists several regional differences amongst British Sign Language, with the colour purple consisting of 22 different ways in which you can sign it. This is a direct effect of the manualism ban. Namely, even though sign language was officially banned by Graham Bell, deaf individuals still needed to communicate, which resulted in regional dialects being established.
In order to preserve the language, deaf clubs were held as a space for Deaf people to use sign language, which had previously been suppressed in schools. The clubs acted as an opportunity for the language to be preserved and played an important role in empowering Deaf individuals to campaign for their rights and greater to access to their chosen communication method. Deaf clubs across the UK worked to preserve BSL and its element of storytelling within communities associated with sports, drama, and the arts. Today, the arts continue to be a powerful platform for celebrating Deaf culture. For example, Deafinitely Theatre, which is the first deaf launched and deaf led professional theatre company in the UK, producing quality bilingual theatre in British Sign Language and spoken English.
In 2023, a significant step forward was made with the passage of the British Sign Language Act. The legislation aims to create greater recognition and understanding of BSL and promote inclusion and equality for BSL users. The legislation places an obligation on the government to be more responsive to the needs of the Deaf community. The BSL Act does not cover mandating widespread BSL provision in every public sector, yet it does represent a major shift towards acknowledging the languages vital role in the lives of many Deaf people.
Ultimately, the journey of BSL and Deaf culture in the UK is one of resilience, adaptation, and progress. From historical suppression at the 1880 Milan Conference to modern recognition, the Deaf community has continually fought for the right to communicate in a way that reflects its identity. Indeed, the British Sign Language Act of 2023 marks a significant step forward, however, it does still require continued efforts and systemic change from the government and the wider society. As BSL gains greater recognition, it is crucial that this focus on inclusion is not purely surface level, rather it is embedded within society. In turn, allowing Deaf culture to flourish without barriers.
