If you’re not familiar with British Sign Language (BSL), it might just look like random hand gestures, something similar to charades. In reality, BSL is a fully developed language with its own grammar, structure and cultural importance.
It’s the most common sign language in the UK’s Deaf community, and it’s far more than a direct translation of spoken English into signs. It’s a fascinating and intricate language all of its own.
BSL is one of the UK’s legally recognised languages
In 2022, the UK government passed the British Sign Language Act, giving BSL official recognition as a language in England, Wales and Scotland. It was a significant step forward. Now, Government departments must show how they’re using BSL and making their services more accessible for Deaf people. This ties directly into existing responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, which says employers and public bodies must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, including communication support.
To help maintain momentum, the Government also established a BSL Advisory Board. This group includes Deaf BSL users and experts who advise on how BSL should be used across public services. One of its priorities is making sure information from Government bodies is actually accessible to Deaf people. The first official report was released in July 2023, detailing the progress made in the first year. It’s early days, but this reporting process sets the tone for change. It gives the Deaf community more say in how public services communicate with them.
Most importantly, these top-level changes send a clear message to Deaf people: you matter, and your language matters. Bit by bit, things are improving, and we’re seeing more real inclusion for Deaf and hard of hearing people across the UK.
Did you know: BSL has regional accents?
BSL is a fascinating language. In regular British English, we encounter all manner of regional accents, something much of the world doesn’t share with us. Cornish, Yorkshire, Welsh, Cockney, Brummie, Scouse, Glaswegian – they’re all distinct and different. Well, you might be surprised to learn that BSL varies in a similar way.
Researchers at University College London ran a big study called the BSL Corpus Project, where they worked with 249 Deaf signers across eight cities, including London, Bristol, Manchester and Belfast. What they found was fascinating. ‘Green’ in Cardiff doesn’t always look like ‘green’ in Glasgow. And there are at least 17 different ways to sign ‘purple’. Manchester has an entirely distinct way of signing numbers. Newcastle residents had a different sign for their home city than everyone else.
How interesting is that? BSL reflects local identities and cultural nuances in exactly the same way as spoken accents, dialects and vocabulary. This is a vital part of the process, as it gives BSL speakers their own unique identity within their culture. Older generations tend to stick with their local signs, while younger people often lean towards more standardised versions, which means some of those regional signs are slowly fading out.
These distinctions give rise from the same roots as our spoken accents and dialects. When BSL first began to be taught and standardised to children in the late 1700s, these children would make up their own signs for words they didn’t yet know. Over time, this has led to the development of completely distinct BSL dialects.
BSL’s structure and cultural role
British Sign Language isn’t just English in mime. It’s so much more than that.
In fact, BSL’s grammar and syntax are completely distinct from English. It often follows a topic-comment structure. The speaker introduces the topic first, followed by the comment. For example, instead of saying “I am going to the shop,” one might sign “Shop, I go.” Facial expressions and body movements also play a crucial role in conveying meaning and grammatical nuances. That’s why those interpreters you see on TV are so expressive.
BSL is also entirely unlike American Sign Language (ASL) and other sign languages around the world. Despite both the UK and the US using English as their primary spoken language, BSL and ASL are not mutually intelligible. They were developed independently with different linguistic roots. Ironically, ASL is more closely related to French Sign Language due to historical influences. In fact, BSL and ASL differ in about 80% of their signs.
Like any language, BSL is more than a way to communicate. It’s a key part of Deaf culture and identity. It connects people, preserves stories and traditions, and helps build a strong sense of community and belonging.
Why your organisation should invest in learning BSL
Language skills are a tremendous asset to any individual or organisation, and BSL is no different. In 2022, the UK Government found that there are around 151,000 BSL users in total, of whom 87,000 are Deaf. That’s an awful lot of people you could be reaching. Plus, it showcases that you’re an inclusive employer, ready to put in the effort to support someone in contributing to your company.
You’ll find various BSL courses and may even be able to pick up a good foundation from free YouTube courses. And if you’re interested in learning even more or need assistance with BSL-related services, Sign Solutions is here to help. Our BSL training, interpretation and translation services are tailored to your employees and your other stakeholders. Contact us today for a friendly, commitment-free chat about how we can help you incorporate BSL in your workplace and make a real difference.
