Did you know British Sign Language (BSL) was recognised as an indigenous language of England, Wales, and Scotland on 28th April 2022 by law? Sign language is a visual way of communicating employing gestures, facial expressions, and body language, and, according to the 2021 census, British Sign Language was the main language of just over 21,000 people in England and slightly over 900 people in Wales. Here, we explore the benefits of learning BSL, how to master it and some British Sign Language words for beginners.
Who uses British Sign Language?
British Sign Language is often relied upon by those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or sometimes by those who are unable to speak (mute). There are thought to be around 11 million deaf people in the UK, with about 150,000 using British Sign Language. In addition to that figure, family and friends of these people and interpreters will also use it.
Interestingly, there are around 300 different sign languages used worldwide, including several sign-languages used in English-speaking countries like the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. Some UK citizens opt to use Sign Supported English, especially if they could speak before becoming deaf, or Makaton should they have additional learning needs. However, BSL remains the sign language most used in Britain, with its own regional differences.
Learning BSL
Whilst Sign Supported English has a structure and grammar based on spoken English, meaning the signs follow the precise order they’d be if they were spoken, British Sign Language has its own syntax, grammar and patterns. One example is starting with the main subject in British Sign Language, then saying something about it.
In English you’d ask:
“What is your name?”
And reply:
“My name is Anna”
But in British Sign Language you’d ask:
“Name – what?”
And reply:
“Name me Anna.”
Similar to two-thirds of the world’s languages, British Sign Language has no written form and not every English word is represented by a BSL sign. Yet, a BSL sign can often convey what could be an entire sentence in English.
Fingerspelling is a way of spelling words using hand movements. It’s helpful for spelling out the names of people and places for which there isn’t a sign or to spell out words the signer doesn’t know the sign for or to clarify a sign that the person reading the signer is unsure of.
Fascinatingly, British Sign Language uses a two-handed alphabet, but some other sign languages like American Sign Language use a one-handed alphabet.
5 common British Sign Language words for beginners you can learn today
1. Hello / Goodbye
With your palm facing the person you’re signing to, wave your dominant hand near the side of your head in one arc. The sign is the same no matter if you’re greeting someone or bidding them farewell. Context helps convey the sign’s intended meaning.
2. What is your name?
Signed as “Name”, “You”, “What?”
First, sign the word ‘name’ by placing the tips of your index and middle fingers to your forehead. Twist your hand forwards at your wrist until your fingers are facing forwards in front of your face.
Next, sign the word “You” by pointing with your index finger at the person you’re referring to.
Lastly, sign the word “What?” by extending your index finger on the hand you write with in front of your body and making short side-to-side movements with your hand. Accompany this sign with a questioning expression.
3. How are you?
Place the fingertips of your flat hands up your chest and then move your hands forwards with your thumbs up and a questioning expression. Eye contact with the person you’re signing to is key here.
4. Can I help you?
Signed as “Help”, “Can?”
Begin by signing the word “Help” by resting your closed hand with your thumb up on the palm of your other upturned hand.
Then sign the word “Can?” with your extended index finger facing outwards to the person, you’re signing to, moving your hand down from eye level to your stomach. Raise your eyebrows to show you’re asking a question.
5. Please / Thank you
Starting with the fingertips of your flat hand on your chin, move your hand down and away. This sign represents both “please” and “thank you.”
Benefits of learning basic BSL signs
Imagine not hearing when someone warns you about danger. Picture not being able to comfort a child as you can’t hear them crying. Visualise not being able to hear jokes, questions about yourself and your thoughts or someone confiding in you. Pretty lonely, right?
There are no doubts people who are deaf, and mute deserve a way to express themselves and be understood. For those who are deaf and / or mute, learning BSL can:
- Open the world to them, so they can communicate and build relationships.
- Improve their mental health. After all, communicating thoughts is one way to calm negative feelings like anxiety.
- Allow them to be part of communities, which limits social isolation that can have a negative impact on health.
For those that can hear and speak, learning BSL can:
- Help build a more inclusive society.
- Meaningfully connect them to a wider group of people. Consider this: someone who’s deaf could have a great deal in common with a hearing person and make a brilliant friend but the friendship could pass the hearing person by if they can’t communicate with them.
- Improve their job prospects as businesses work to be more accessible, BSL could be a valuable asset.
- Enhance their communication. British Sign Language challenges our brains and engages all our senses. The result? The learner becomes an active listener, even when chatting to someone who can hear. They focus more on facial expressions and body language – skills they can transfer to a conversation with anyone.
Ways to learn BSL
- Study from one of the several online dictionaries of the various signs of British Sign Language words and familiarise yourself with the right or left-handed British Sign Language Fingerspelling alphabet. The British Sign Language Resources website is packed with aids like flashcards, eBooks and more to help you.
- Play games, such as the British Sign Language wordsearch to practice your fingerspelling – you can even make your own wordsearch.
- Watch British Sign Language tutorial videos on YouTube or other video sharing sites or enjoy following along to familiar films and TV shows that feature a British Sign Language signer – handy if you’re an audio/visual learner.
- Make it a habit. The British Sign Language website has a ‘Sign of the Day’ they update on their homepage daily which you could master and then recap what you’ve learnt at the end of each week.
- Chat to a person who relies on British Sign Language regularly using BSL to really immerse yourself in the language – local charities like the British Deaf Association, who support those who are deaf and / or mute people may be able to connect you to someone.
- Access British Sign Language with a BSL for beginners, flexible online course.
- Maximise apps so you can learn anywhere, anytime. Searching for ‘learn British Sign Language’ on the Google Play or Apple app stores will give you plenty of options to browse.
Just as British Sign Language helps build a more accessible society, we aim to give people access to their personal health record via the Evergreen Life app so they can be informed to drive their own health and wellbeing.
Reviewed by:
Anna Keeble MA BA Head of Content and Wellbeing Expert
Dr Brian Fisher MBBch MBE MSc FRSA – Clinical Director
- Barnard Medical Group (n.d.) Patient Communication Needs. Barnard Medical Group.
- British Deaf Association (n.d.) Equality. Access. Freedom of choice. British Deaf Association
- British Sign Language (n.d.) British Sign Language Dictionary. British Sign Language.
- British Sign Language (n.d.) BSL Word Search. British Sign Language.
- British Sign Language (n.d.) Fingerspelling Alphabet. British Sign Language.
- British Sign Language (n.d.) Introducing British Sign Language. British Sign Language.
- British Sign Language (n.d.) Learn from home in your own time. British Sign Language.
- BSL Link for Communication (n.d.) What is British Sign Language? BSL Link for Communication.
- BSL Resources (n.d.) Dictionary of British Sign Language. BSL Resources
- Calvert Exmoor (n.d.) The Different Types of Sign Language in the UK. Calvert Exmoor.
- Makaton (n.d.) What is Makaton? Makaton.
- Sense (2023) Sign Language. Sense.
- Signature (2022) Census 2021 – British Sign Language. Signature.
- SignSolutions (2022) Which countries use sign language? SignSolutions.
- The Deaf Health Charity SignHealth (n.d.) Who uses British Sign Language (BSL)? The Deaf Health Charity SignHealth.
