British Sign Language

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/british-sign-language

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the linguistic classification?Independent sign language with a distinct grammar and lexicon
2. What is the primary user base?Deaf community in the United Kingdom, with an estimated 87,000 Deaf users
3. How do people make words in BSL?Words in BSL are made by combining hand shapes, where the hand is, how it moves, and sometimes the face or body. The same hand shape can mean different things depending on its position or direction.
4. Why is BSL important for Deaf people?BSL is the main way many Deaf people think, talk, and share culture. It helps them connect with each other and keeps their community strong.

Visual-gestural language: A language system that relies on visual input, primarily hand signs and body movements, for communication.
Non-manual markers (NMMs): Grammatical and semantic information conveyed through facial expressions, head movements, and body posture in sign languages.
Lexicon: The vocabulary of a language, including the specific signs used in British Sign Language.