Sign Language
Sign Language is a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expression, and body language. Sign Language is used mainly by Deaf people and people with hearing difficulties.
British Sign Language
Within Britain the most common form of Sign Language is called British Sign Language (BSL). BSL has it's own grammatical structure and syntax, as a language it is not dependant nor is it strongly related to spoken English. BSL is the preferred language of between 50,000 - 70,000 people within the UK.
BSL - A Recognised Language
After a big campaign BSL was finally recognised by the UK government as an official minority language in 2003. This has lead to increased funding for the needs of Deaf people's communication, and an increased awareness of the language which now has a similar status to that of Gaelic and Welsh.
How should I learn BSL?
It is impossible to learn to sign from a leaflet, a book, video or CD-ROM. If you would like to learn BSL, the best way to start is to take a course taught by a qualified sign language teacher. About 800 centres in the UK run courses in BSL. These include further education colleges, community education centres, adult education centres, universities, local deaf clubs and deaf groups. The Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) produces details of centres running BSL courses in your area.
Click here to find a local course.
DERBY SIGN LANGUAGE CLUB
If you'd like to practise your Sign Language come along to Derby Deaf Club. We meet at the Rycote Centre (top floor), Parker Street/Kedleston Road, 7.00pm till late on the last Friday of the month.
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