What is BSL?

BSL = British Sign Language. British Sign Language is the first preferred language used by 50 - 70,000 Deaf people in the UK. It is a language with its own grammar and syntax and has evolved and developed from Deaf people using it on a daily basis BSL:

• Is a visual gestural langauge
• It uses hands, facial expression and body language
• It is British and not the same all over the world
• It has regional variations, just the same as the spoken word has accents
• Because it is used by 250 000 people everyday, it changes as the society and world around it changes

Why should you learn BSL? Firstly BSL is a beautiful language and can be fun to learn. At work or socially you never know when you may come in contact with a BSL user. There is also legislation in place called Disability Discrimination Act that states that Deaf people should have equal access. If you work in an organisation that serves the general public, there should be somoene there who can communicate with BSL users in there first preferred language BSL.