British Sign Language (BSL): Guide

Dani Sive (Headteacher Frank Barnes School) and Catherine Drew (Key Stage 1/2 Team Leader Frank Barnes School) | View as single page | Feedback/Impact

BSL in social contexts

Deaf people use BSL in a wide variety of social contexts.  Deaf clubs, Deaf theatre, Deaf pub, and Deaf events are a few social activities where deaf people gather to chat, mingle or interact.  Sometimes hearing people such as interpreters or CSWs or people learning BSL will also attend these events to participate in 'Deaf culture'.

Here is a video showing a deaf child communicating with her mother, using BSL.

The NDCS Family Sign Language website demonstrates different communication styles in families using sign language.  This website also demonstrates some BSL vocabulary, and videos of parents sharing stories with their child etc.

(It is necessary to activate Adobe flash to use this site.NDCS require you to register and subsequently you will need to log in to access these NDCS resources.  This service is FREE.)