Deaf people make up 11 million people in the UK, with an estimated 150,000 of those using British Sign Language (BSL).
For a hearing person communicating with a Deaf person, it may feel more natural to speak and sign simultaneously. However, this can become confusing for the Deaf person because of the significant
differences between English and BSL. As a way around this, some Deaf people opt to use Sign Supported English to help them communicate. Here are some tips to avoid any awkwardness and help you better communicate with Deaf people.
What is Sign Supported English
Sign Supported English(SSE) is a type of sign language that follows the spoken and written English language and its structure. SSE uses the same grammatical rules as English and is mainly used to support spoken English. It is often used in education.
SSE is sometimes seen as a way to enable mixed Deaf and hearing families or groups to communicate. For example, a family who are hearing with one or more Deaf members, may choose to use SSE as the primary communication at home so that they can communicate with everyone at once.
However, Sign Supported English carries a lot of controversy and many BSL users see it as a symbol of disrespect and oppression. On paper, it may seem that SSE is a perfect solution for communication between Deaf and hearing people, but it isn’t that simple. Spoken language and sign language do not follow the same grammatical form, which means speaking and signing at the same time often leads to misunderstanding.
When using both spoken English and sign language, it is often the case that the spoken language takes priority, leading to a sort of pidgin sign language, which makes only partial sense. This highlights all sorts of issues surrounding the discrimination against the Deaf community, such as audism – the belief that the ability to hear makes one superior to those who are deaf.
When is it better to use spoken English and BSL?
Communicating using two languages at the same time can be very damaging and confusing. However, in certain situations, its use has value. For example, Deaf students still need to learn English as a subject, so using SSE can help them to learn the grammar and formulae of the English language.
However, it is always better to hire a BSL interpreter instead of relying on one person using spoken and sign language simultaneously. A
BSL interpreter helps bridge the communication gap between Deaf and hearing individuals, allowing for better understanding and collaboration. They also promote Deaf culture and help educate people about the benefits of sign language.
How easy is it to learn BSL?
When communicating with a Deaf signer, it is always more inclusive, and better to use sign language on its own rather than in combination with spoken language. Learning BSL can be a fun and enriching experience that will give you new skills, knowledge and insights to communicate and engage in more meaningful ways with Deaf people.
Learning BSL is the same as learning any other language. It takes time, effort, commitment and practice. As a visual language, you will also learn a range of signs, facial expressions, body language and BSL language structure. Learning a new language can be challenging, but once you get into the swing of things, learning a new way to communicate can quickly become second nature.
Add Your Heading Text Here
Many businesses and organisations don’t know where to start when it comes to finding and working with a BSL interpreter, which is where Sign Solutions can help.
Sign Solutions provides
BSL interpreting and translation services in-person or online, plus expert consultancy, to help ensure your organisation is as accessible as possible. All the qualified BSL interpreters we work with are DBS-checked and NRCPD registered and provide a high-quality service to Deaf people across the UK. We can also provide a range of accredited communication professionals for Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing users.
To find out more, and for expert advice on which type of communication support will meet your needs, give us a call on 0121 447 9620, email
bookings@signsolutions.uk.com or contact us via a
BSL video interpreter.
