BSL
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Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
We were watching ‘The Chelsea Detective’ the other evening. It’s a pleasant series, with mostly believable characters. It is not taxing to watch and even the chase scenes are mercifully short. The pathologist in it is deaf and is played by a deaf *actress, Sophie Leigh Stone.
In one episode, she mentions that there are different accents in British Sign Language (BSL) and that intrigued me. When I was younger, I learnt the BSL alphabet, though I don’t remember why.
I have since discovered that it can take three to four years to become fluent in BSL. That estimate is based on having lessons for three hours a week. It was first recognised as an official language in 2003, so fairly recently, and in 2022 it was acknowledged legally as an official British language.
There has been a sign language in Britain since the 15th century, and some of the signs used then are still in use today. Undoubtedly, there were informal methods of communication between deaf people since communication began.
The first school for deaf children in Britain was established in 1760. Although its emphasis was on speech, it also used signing.
There are interesting links here and here, which may not agree with each other on all points, confusingly.
Before the twentieth century, there was no official teaching of sign language. The focus was on teaching children to lip read and finger spell. There was a feeling, current across Europe until the 1940s, that signing was bad, possibly inferior, and should be punished.
Some thirty years later, that belief was replaced by active teaching of BSL in schools for the deaf. It is an evolving language, like most languages today, and bears distinct differences from American Sign Language and Irish Sign Language.
American Sign Language chart
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
At first glance, the Irish Sign Language alphabet has more in common with ASL than BSL.
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
BANZSL incorporates the sign languages used in Australia and New Zealand, which share much with BSL. 82% of their signs are identical.
It is now common to see BSL translators alongside newscasters, delivering the latest news bulletins to the population.
*There is now an ‘inclusiveness’ tab in the spelling and grammar application. I suppose the word ‘actress’ is rather outdated. The reasoning for using ‘actor’ to describe anyone who acts is that it is not gender-specific and is therefore inclusive.
What will replace the ‘Best actress/supporting actress’ nominations?
This has posted in lurid green because I made a mistake in publishing. I clicked on May 1st, not June 1st. I despair!!!
When in primary school in the 1950s here, I assume everyone learned BSL and I remember every letter still. But it was slow because, as far as I remember there were no words, only single letters. The BSL translators on tv these days are clearly as fast as the speakers.
ReplyDeleteI think translators in any language are quite remarkable. Did you learn the BSL alphabet at school? I taught myself, at home.
DeleteAt one time deaf children were sent away to a special school. they were rarely seen in public. It's come a long way since then.
ReplyDeleteIt's right that the treatment of all disabled people has advanced. There are still specialist schools for them.
DeleteThat show sounds like one here called Sue Thomas FB eye.
ReplyDeleteI always assumed that sign language was universal and the same everywhere
Never in a million years did I think there would be regional variations in a signed language. It must be the same across the world, I suppose.
DeleteI like the green. My genus daughter "no-one" learnt Australian sign language years ago when she was working with a deaf girl, but she hasn't needed to use it and is probably rusty. I like seeing the signing when the news is on, although here it is not used in daily news programs, but when there is "more disastrous" news such as about floods, fires and warnings about covid and the need for vaccinations.
ReplyDeleteSign language is not used in every bulletin here, but on certain channels. I don't watch much live television, so am not really up to date.
DeleteI never thought about ASL and BSL being different; I just assumed it was universal, which is kind of silly of me.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know what we don't know - it's natural to 'assume.'
DeleteI learnt a bit of ASL years ago and loved the language. Learnt a few phrases as well instead of finger spelling. We had fun signing to one another in crowded, loud places, and swearing in sign . As with all languages- use it or lose it! Curios that BSL is so different.
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting watching deaf people conversing. I always think their parties must be so gentle.
DeleteA group of deaf people used to meet in our local on curry night. It was interesting to see them having an argument. I can't read signing but the language to clearly getting disputative.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been interesting to observe. Can you 'shout' in BSL?
DeleteBSL uses two hands for the alphabet, the others only one hand, I joined a group of friends including two deaf people and we all learnt to sign. When George was born daughter and I both did Makaton to level 4, which is used in schools, slightly different from BSL as it incorporates sketches as teaching aid. Everyday we use sign with George, who now mainly speaks but struggles with some words. Daughter and I use sign if we are somewhere loud and can't hear each other or not close enough to speak, it's very handy to know.
ReplyDeleteSigning is a really useful language. Makaton was/is used on CBeebies, and signing is increasingly used with young babies, whose understanding outstrips their verbal development. Makaton must have made life much easier for George and you and your daughter.
DeleteGeorge Webster on CBeebies has been a wonderful ambassador for Downs Syndrome, all the school 1to1 people know and use Makaton.
DeleteThat is so encouraging to hear. I've only seen Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble.
DeleteI did learn BSL but found that, as a hearing impaired person who only has to communicate with normal hearing people, it was rather redundant.
ReplyDeleteIt really requires people with unimpaired hearing to make the effort. Do you rely much on lip-reading? (Apologies if that's inappropriate.)
DeleteNot inappropriate in the slightest... and yes, I do tend to rely on lipreading a lot. Even with hearing aids, speech can be so difficult to understand at times.
DeleteSo many people mumble, too, or cover their mouths as they speak.
DeleteI learnt the alphabet off my own bat as a teenager and the only letter that seems different to BSL is 's'. Was it interlocked small finger. Wait a bit, I'll check. Thanks for waiting. Your time is important to me. Yes, curled linked small fingers. Actually, they could be the same. The BSL drawing isn't great.
ReplyDeleteYou're picking up the lingo from recorded messages!
DeleteWe're enjoying the BBC drama with Rose Ayling Ellis in A deaf actor and it is very good.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen her. What is she in?
DeleteIt's a powerful reminder of how rich and evolving human communication truly is, even in forms many of us rarely consider.
ReplyDeleteAll sentient beings have an urge to communicate and the more we can understand each other, the richer we will be.
DeletePersonally, I like to know when I am reading or listening to some report if the news is about female or male. I guess just "human" will have to do from now on. I really don't like it. I think women are still fighting for their rights and deserve to be recognized as female. I never gave any thought to sign language difference but I see the distinct differences in these photos. My cousin learned sign language as a teen when his mother and father fostered a deaf boy until he was of age.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It often feels as if women are being sidelined, even when that is not the intention.
DeleteFostering is a challenge, even without other difficulties. Your cousin acquired an important skill.
I learned ASL and fingerspelling back in the 1970s and even interpreted hymns in our church for the deaf group for a short time. I wouldn’t call myself proficient nowadays. I knew that ASL and BSL fingerspelling alphabets were different, but I didn’t know just how different or that BSL uses two hands. My grandfather lost four fingers of one hand in a carpentry accident with a saw, and there is one preacher on American religious television (SBN) who has lost his right hand. Neither of them would fare very well with BSL. I like being able to specify numbers using only one hand: 10 to 19 are quite interesting and starting at 20 the pattern becomes more regular. Fingerspelling is not ASL exactly as ASL is more graphic, like making pictures in the air, not spelling everything. Fascinating overall. Great post, Janice, and the comments are interesting too.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Anonymous was me, er, I.
DeleteThank you. It's a huge subject and very interesting. I did wonder how people handicapped by loss of fingers would cope. As you point out, BSL would be more difficult in those circumstances.
DeleteMy cousin worked at a school for deaf blind children many years ago and became fluent in finger spelling. She tried to teach me, and I wasn't very adept. The family considered her slow, but I never agreed.
ReplyDeleteTeachers of deaf-blind children have to be extraordinarily empathetic and innovative, I think. I have the highest regard for those who teach handicapped children, particularly at the most difficult pre-school age.
ReplyDeleteThis is very iteresting Janice. I love The Chelsea Detective, I agree with everything you have said about it.
ReplyDeleteI like Adrian Scarborough. He's very natural.
DeleteSo interesting. I learned the ASL alphabet and a few ASL signs. It's always fascinating to watch state broadcasts from the governor as they have an ASL interpreter.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost like watching a ballet.
DeleteSadly, Sam has had to rely on lip reading a whole lot ever since he had a bad case of covid which changed his hearing drastically. I do find this to be very fascinating. Our youngest granddaughter took a high school class on sign language and it was a very difficult class for her. funny how younger people can operate any technology devise and they never ever single detail of operating them, but something like sign language is a bit more of a challenge. I think it would be great for us all to understand sign language. Here in Texas, it would be beneficial for us to also know Spanish!!! LOL....
ReplyDeleteIt would be good for us all to learn some sign language, and also to enunciate clearly for the benefit of those who rely on lip reading. I thought Spanish was taught in schools in Texas.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to know this
ReplyDeleteWe could all benefit from understanding sign language.
DeleteI am way beyond learning this now but would have given it a go a few years ago. very interesting.. in highschool we had a finger talk but not like any of these. it was shaping the letters. If i had to spell a word i could not spell fast enough to translate. My spelling skills have died
ReplyDeleteYour skills haven't died, they've just taken a back seat for now, with everything else going on in your life.
DeleteOne of my co-workers has been training in BSL for years. She taught us a workshop once but I confess I don't remember any of it. :/
ReplyDeleteDon't tell your co-worker!
DeleteI had no idea sign language wasn't universal ... how confusing! xxx
ReplyDeleteI knew there were different versions for different languages, but hadn't appreciated the complexity of the subject.
DeleteI don't know why I thought all sign language everywhere was the same.
ReplyDeleteI think many of us did!
DeleteI like that series.
ReplyDeleteWhat I wonder when I watch it is how much feedback a deaf person would require to get their volume right. I am impaired enough that I can’t even hear myself properly and may tend to shout. I am only guessing how my voice might be perceived by others.
That is difficult. I understand that modern hearing aids are much more precise. I know someone who has worn aids for 15 years. I didn't know until recently, and had never noticed him speaking loudly or not hearing clearly.
DeleteThis was very informative. I adore sign language and taught it to my grandkids before they acquired English. I will likely remain a novice but I continue to learn. Giphy is a terrific resource. I think everyone should at least know how to sing happy birthday in sign language.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a wonderful beginning. 😊
DeleteMy youngest daughter did some signing with her small children, before they acquired linguistic skills.
I think the series Chris mentioned in her comment is called 'Code Of Silence' I've not watched it although I have seen the adverts for it.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to sign language I have heard Makaton mentioned in schools and I think some teaching assistants may have training in it.
All the best Jan
Thank you for that, Jan. I will investigate.
DeleteClassroom assistants are vastly underrated, and too often used as substitute teachers.
When I finished university and began my first full-time job, I took a few night classes in different skills and one was ASL. I still remember the alphabet but not the signs we learned. I like to watch the interpreters at events and I admire their fluidity and speed. Thanks for sharing about the differences; I hadn't realized but it makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI think the most moving thing is when interpreters are involved in memorial services.
DeleteI was watching that show and thought it was very interesting too. I suppose like with any languages there are differences in regions as well as slang and such. Great post
ReplyDeleteYou're right, but it had never occurred to me. People always adapt language and expression to suit themselves.
DeleteI had just recently learned about BSL. I had no idea there were different variations of sign language.
ReplyDeleteIt's the sort of thing that doesn't occur to someone unless they have direct experience of it.
DeleteI didn't know that there were accents! Bear learned some sign language as a kid as he was slow to talk and there were concerns. It was Makaton, the sign language used by Mr Tumble on CeeBeebies and he found it as mutable as spoken language - signing door and then nose to indicate a door knob. There's nothing wrong with his speech now, he just never tells me anything, which is normal for teenage boys.
ReplyDeleteMy eldest grandson would have benefitted from Makaton, but I'm not sure it was widely available 27 years ago. He was keenly observant and could build any model, just by looking at it. Dogs gave him confidence, too.
ReplyDeleteHe's fine now, all grown up, married, with two little girls, and keeping the country safe from cyber attacks!
I had to laugh at your comment about teenage boys - so true!
Ha ha your background today made me smile. We all have those moments don't we.
ReplyDeleteSuch interesting information on signing in its various forms. I have just started watching The Chelsea Detective and think it will be a series to keep watching.
It's quite a pleasant series, I think - not slow, not gory, and not too much back-story.
ReplyDelete