Every effort to make society inclusive counts. BSL and ASL are the solutions to effective communication and cultural understanding in the UK and the United States. By learning a few basic signs, like hi, goodbye, sorry and thank you, you can create a society that includes deaf individuals. Although British and Americans share the same spoken language, their sign languages vary. So, ASL vs BSL: Which Sign Language Should You Learn? Let’s go deeper into this topic.
Table of Contents
What is British Sign Language?
What is BSL sign language? BSL means British Sign Language. It is widely used in the United Kingdom to communicate with deaf individuals, their families and those with SEND. This England sign language is the visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expressions and body language. Moreover, it has its own grammar, syntax and lexicons and is not dependent upon English. The language was officially recognised in 2003.
Although deaf people are the primary users of the language, people who have difficulty hearing or speaking use it too to communicate. The total number of people using BSL sign language in the UK is around 1,51000. Among them, 87,000 are deaf.
What is ASL?
What is the sign language in the United States?
ASL stands for American Sign Language. It’s the visual language primarily used by the deaf community in the United States. Just like sign language BSL, ASL language has its own grammar rules and syntax. hand signals. It’s a rich combination of lip patterns, facial expressions and body movements. The sign language was invented in the early 19th century, right after the establishment of the American School for the Deaf.
Signing ASL can improve people’s access to information and communication. Again by learning ASL signs, you can hold meaningful conversations with deaf children, fostering their emotional and educational development.
How many types of sign languages are there?
There are different forms of sign language. According to Sign Solutions, there are more than 300 different kinds of sign languages in use around the world. The languages vary from nation to nation. Some are only used locally, while others are used by millions worldwide. Now if you wonder how many sign languages are there, here we’ve gathered a list of different types of sign language.
– Chinese Sign Language (CSL or ZGS) is the most-used sign language in the world, with 20 million users.
– Next comes Brazilian Sign Language. It has approximately 3 million users worldwide.
– Indo-pakistani is another form of sign language used by over 1.8 million people in South Asia.
There are different languages in sign language. However, BSL is the most commonly used United Kingdom sign language, with around 151,000 users.
What is the difference between BSL and ASL?
We have previously explained what is bsl and what is asl. Now we will take you through the differences between BSL and ASL. As the name suggests, British Sign Language is used in the United Kingdom and American Sign Language is used in the United States. ASL and BSL are two completely different sign languages. A common difference between BSL and ASL is that letters are signed with one hand in ASL, while BSL uses two hands.
To identify the difference in sign language (British Sign Language vs ASL), you first need to understand the basic structure of both sign languages.
The basic structure of both BSL and ASL is the same. Let’s take British sign language BSL as an example.
This is the traditional English sentence structure
“Subject” + “Verb” + “Object”
However, the BSL sentence structure is as follows:
Topic- comment structure
The topic is mentioned first. A comment about the topic is given and defined afterwards.
Take this example as a reference:
In English, we say: The man is swimming in the river.
However, in BSL, we say: River man swim. Although the words can vary depending on the signer’s needs.
As BSL is a visual-gestural language, you need to paint a picture in your mind about what you’re willing to say before saying it. On top of that, you should make sure that you describe it in detail so that the other person can effectively picture the concept.
However, there are rules that you need to follow to effectively communicate with sign language. If you look at the above example, the river comes before the man. While hand signing, the most important object in your mental picture should be communicated first. Afterwards, you can include the minor elements. Finally comes the action or the verb, in this case- swim.
Now for BSL vs ASL
Vocabulary
ASL and BSL share around 30% of their signs. Yet, a BSL user will be unable to understand ASL. This is because both sign languages are designed in different directions. BSL is entirely different from ASL. The sign language for alphabets and numbers varies.
Manual Alphabet
The second difference between ASL and BSL is the manual alphabet. American sign language uses a one-handed manual alphabet, whereas British Sign Language uses two-handed. The vowels in BSL are created with the thumb and four fingers. Moreover, the remainder of the alphabet in sign language British is mainly done with two hands. However, the ASL vowels and the remaining US sign language alphabets are signed with one hand.
Take a look at the manual alphabets for both BSL and ASL
British Sign Language
American Sign Language
Dependency on Fingerspelling
BSL vs ASL. Another major difference between ASL and BSL users is that ASL users commonly use fingerspelling. On the other hand, BSL users primarily use it for proper nouns. For example, names and places which are first stated. Instead of using fingerspelling, BSL users prefer classifiers to create new signs. On the other hand, ASL depends heavily on facial expressions, whereas BSL focuses on body movements and handshapes.
ASL vs BSL: Which Sign Language Should You Learn?
It depends on which area you live in. If you live in the United Kingdom, you should learn BSL sign language, Again if you live in the United States or any English-speaking region of Canada, ASL is your ultimate option.
Many people believe BSL is a deaf sign language and that it can only be used by the deaf community. Whether you have any hearing problems or not, you can still learn BSL and facilitate communication with sign language.
Here are some reasons why you should learn BSL if you live in the United Kingdom:
BSL serves as a communication bridge between deaf and hearing individuals
Many people with hearing problems feel isolated as they can’t communicate naturally.
BSL is the bridge between the deaf world and the hearing world. It lets people express themselves, engage with people and have similar access to information. Again, studying sign language can promote equality between deaf and hearing individuals.
It helps establish stronger bonds with the deaf community
Learning BSL allows you to build connections with new people. So, if you love making new friends, learn how to do sign language and connect with the deaf community. Moreover, learning Sign Language UK will help you communicate effectively and form meaningful relationships in your social work practice.
Aids in career advancements
Deaf individuals often rely on BSL interpreters. Your BSL proficiency can help you work as a sign language interpreter, communication support worker, teacher of the deaf, social services provider, etc.
According to Indeed, the average salary for a sign language interpreter in the United Kingdom is £19.96 per hour or £37,411 per year.
Where can you learn sign language?
How to learn sign language? Where do you learn sign language? How do you learn ASL?
Many questions arise when you think about learning sign language. Luckily, there are many sign language classes you can take to increase your sign language proficiency and career prospects. The courses cover basic English sign language and conversational signs. You’ll find information about sign-supported English, the British sign language alphabet, the American sign language alphabet, and British sign language words and phrases. The courses will teach you about BSL letters, BSL sign language numbers, ASL sign language letters and universal sign language.
You can also search for sign language training online. But which is the best way to learn sign language? SkillUp offers various training programs that are geared up at all levels. For instance, the courses cover various sign language words for beginners as well as advanced conversational phrases in BSL. There are courses like the British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 & 2, the British Sign Language Teacher and the British Sign Language Interpreter to develop your sign language expertise.
The courses will teach you about the British sign alphabets, and basic sign language words and phrases. For example, you’ll understand how to say hello in Sign Language UK, how are you in sign language, please in Sign Language UK, and in BSL, you’re welcome in BSL, etc. You’ll learn about different letters in Sign Language UK. The courses will also teach you about different name signs in Sign Language to fingerspell a person’s name. Overall, the courses will prepare you to use gestures daily and interact with the deaf community confidently.
Some basic ASL and BSL signs
Sign language is beautiful in every way. By learning it, you can develop a sense of empathy and understanding towards other people in the society. Here we’ve included some of the fundamental sign language vocabulary for beginners:
ASL sign for S
Hold your dominant hand up and make a fist, palm facing out. Make sure your thumb is tucked in front of your fingers.
F in sign language ASL
What’s the sign for F in ASL? To sign the letter F in sign language ASL, use one hand and touch the tip of your pointer finger to the tip of your thumb. Meanwhile, extend your pinky, middle finger, and pointer finger upward. Keep the fingers separated from each other.
W in sign language
How to sign the letter W in BSL? Simply interlock the fingers of both your hands and point them upwards diagonally.
B in sign language
To sign the letter B in BSL, make an ‘O’ shape by using the fingers of both hands separately. Then, join your hands to form a binocular shape.
D in sign language
Point your left hand’s middle finger in an upward direction. Next, touch the tip of your finger with your dominant hand’s index finger. Finally, touch the left hand’s index finger with your right hand’s thumb to say ‘D’ in sign language BSL.
Hello in sign language UK
To say ‘hello’ in British Sign Language, wave the hand near the side of your head.
Please in sign language UK
Place the fingertips of your right hand(if that is the dominant one) on your lips. Afterwards, move the hand away from your face in the same direction. This is the BSL sign language for “please” and “thank you”.
American sign language please
To sign “please” in ASL, place your right-hand fingers on top of your chest, with fingers extended handheld together, and your thumb extended and sticking out. Move your hand with your palm facing in and rub it in a circular motion.
Yes in sign language
Lift your right hand (if that is the dominant one) into your chest area. Make your hand into a fist and rotate forward like head-nodding.
British sign language how are you
Place both hands in front of you, placing palms up. Then, twist your hands so that your fingers point towards each other. Move your hands apart slightly in a small arc and point towards the person you are asking.
Stop in sign language ASL
Place your non-dominant hand flat with your palm up. Keeping the dominant hand flat, lower it so it hits the flat side of the non-dominant hand with your hand extended. You can apply more or less force, depending on how important it is to stop something.
BSL more
Make a fist with your left hand. Tap on top of your fist with your right hand to sign more in BSL.
Conclusion
ASL vs BSL: Which Sign Language Should You Learn? BSL is the most common sign language in the UK. By studying the deaf language, you can foster inclusivity in everyday interactions. Both ASL and BSL bring many benefits to people despite of whether they are deaf or have hearing problems. If you learn sign language, you can work in public-facing roles such as police officers, nurses, paramedics, educators and social workers, ensuring equal accessibility and positively impacting people’s lives.
FAQs
ASL stands for American Sign Language. It’s a visual language used by the Deaf community in the United States and parts of Canada.
What does BSL stand for? BSL stands for British Sign Language, the sign language used in the United Kingdom. It’s a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expressions and body language.
Learning sign language can take several months to a few years, depending on the level of fluency desired and the amount of practice.
How do I find ASL classes near me? You can find ASL courses at local colleges, community centres, or online platforms. Check with nearby educational institutions or online resources for availability. Skill Up provides 100% online courses. You can learn at your own pace and have access to the course materials from anywhere.
Sign languages developed naturally within Deaf communities. Key figures like Charles-Michel de l’Épée in France and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet in the United States contributed to formalising sign language education.
No, sign language is not universal. Different countries and regions have their own distinct sign languages, such as BSL in the UK and ASL in the US.
SSE stands for Sign Supported English, a method of using signs from British Sign Language alongside spoken English.
Makaton and British Sign Language (BSL) are both sign-based communication systems but serve different purposes. Makaton is mainly used in special education and speech therapy, while BSL is the primary language of the Deaf community in the UK.
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