SITE SEARCH      SITE MAP

 

US$ 80

• Hardcover library binding
• 1,272 pages
• Articles for 6,912 living languages
• Index of 39,491 language names
• 208 color maps
• Arranged by continent and country
• Helpful statistical summary tables
• and more

---

Newest SIL Publications

Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Europe > United Kingdom > British Sign Language

British Sign Language

A language of United Kingdom

ISO 639-3: bfi

Population	40,000 first-language users (1984 Deuchar), out of 909,000 deaf, of which the majority probably have some degree of sign language competence (1977 Deuchar).
Region	United Kingdom including Northern Ireland, Scotland.
Alternate names	BSL
Dialects	Not inherently intelligible to users of American Sign Language. The deaf community is cohesive, so communication is good despite regional differences.
Classification	Deaf sign language
Language use	Good regional and national organizations for the deaf. Signed interpretation is required in court, and provided in some other situations. Sign language instruction for parents of deaf children. Many sign language classes for hearing people. There is an organization for sign language teachers. There is a committee on national sign language. Sign language was used before 1644. Deaf schools were established in the late 18th century. There is increasing desire to train deaf children in BSL.
Language development	Films. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar.
Comments	British Signed English is different from American Signed English.