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Sign language is a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expression and body language. It is used mainly by people who are Deaf or to support those who have a hearing loss. In the UK, the most common sign language used is British Sign Language (BSL).Â
If you’re wondering what BSL is or what BSL stands for, BSL stands for British Sign Language. It has its own grammatical structure and syntax; as a language, it is not dependent upon or related to English.
On the 28th April 2022, the BSL Act was given Royal Assent. The Bill recognises British Sign Language as a language of England, Wales and Scotland; it requires the Secretary of State to report on the promotion and facilitation of the use of British Sign Language by ministerial government departments; and to require guidance to be issued in relation to British Sign Language.
There are estimated to be 151,000 Deaf adults and children in the UK who use British Sign Language (BSL) and for 70,000 of them, British Sign Language (BSL) is their preferred means of communication. The actual number of people using BSL on a day to day basis is of-course considerably higher. Indeed these figures do not take into account the families, friends and colleagues of Deaf people who use BSL to communicate with them.
Many people view sign language as a means of communication for someone who has been profoundly deaf from childhood. However, the hard facts are that deafness can impact anyone at any point in their life for any number of reasons. An ageing population also means that there are more and more people who face hearing loss later in life.
There are currently over 18 millions adults in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus (RNID) and this equates to 1 in 3 adults. See Prevalence of hearing loss by Local Authority area (2014 ONS estimates) for more details on areas.
Any form of disability can lead to social exclusion and isolation, and deafness certainly has the potential to cause this problem. As a society, we have a responsibility to address this and encouraging the widespread use of an effective means of communication is one method that can be employed.
BSL skills are increasingly relevant as our population ages. Want to know how BSL works or what British Sign Language is? Â Get in touch for more information.
Looking to learn British Sign Language (BSL)? We recommend starting with our BSL for beginners course before progressing to our BSL Level 1 course. Use the Signature centre finder to find a course today!
BSL, or British Sign Language, is the primary language used by many Deaf people in the UK. So, what is British Sign Language? It is a visual language that uses hand shapes, gestures, facial expressions and body language to communicate. Unlike a signed version of English, BSL is a complete language with its own grammar and sentence structure. It is officially recognised as a language in England, Wales and Scotland under the British Sign Language Act 2022.
British Sign Language (BSL) is a visual language used throughout the UK. Unlike spoken English, BSL has its own vocabulary and grammar, making it a complete language in its own right.
BSL stands for British Sign Language. It is the most widely used sign language in the UK and is used by thousands of Deaf people.
Although Makaton and British Sign Language both use signs, they serve different purposes.
British Sign Language is a complete language used by many Deaf people and has its own grammar and syntax.
Makaton is a communication programme that combines signs, symbols and speech to support people with learning disabilities or communication difficulties. It follows spoken English word order rather than BSL grammar.
American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) are different languages. They have different signs, grammar and fingerspelling alphabets. Someone who uses BSL will not automatically understand ASL, just as speakers of different spoken languages may not understand each other.
A BSL certification is a recognised qualification that demonstrates your ability to communicate using British Sign Language.
Signature offers nationally recognised BSL qualifications, including our CPD accredited BSL for Beginners, BSL Level 1 right through to BSL Level 6 and higher-level qualifications. Whether you’re learning BSL for work, education or personal development, a Signature qualification provides a structured pathway to developing your skills.
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