British Sign language (or BSL) is a visual-gestural
language which makes use of three dimensional space and the movement of
hands (and other parts of the body) to convey meaning. It has its own
vocabulary and syntax.An aid to understanding
it can be helped by understating the processes of spoken language. Spoken
language involves the use of the oratory faculties to produce sounds mapped
against specific words and grammatical combinations. The oratory elements
are then received by the auditory faculties and processed accordingly.
British sign language however, makes use of the visual faculties as opposed
to the auditory faculties. In the same way that spoken language makes use of
rules to produce comprehensive messages, British Sign Language is also
governed by a complex grammar which allows both the tangible and the non
tangible to be discussed thoroughly.
Contrary to the beliefs of significant parts of the
speaking population, British Sign Language is not a mixture of arbitrary
signs modeled solely on the visual referent.
The History:
British Sign Language has fought a difficult battle
throughout history - a battle which is still being fought today.
The following information will give an overview of the
language and some of the battles that it has had to endure throughout
history.
One of the first official historical record of BSL
dates back to 1576, when a wedding ceremony was conducted in sign language
in Leicester.
The 18th and 19th Centuries appear to have been a far
more positive time in history for individuals using it. Examples of events
during this period are as follows:
* Reference to the development of a sign language
finger alphabet, developed by Daniel Defoe, was documented in 1720.
Incidentally, this method of communicating alphabets is still in use today
(with a few minor adjustments)
* The first public school for Deaf children was
established in 1755 by Charles-Michel de l'Épée. Charles-Michel de l'Épée
continues to be celebrated as a pioneer in educational services for the
Deaf. Following his death, he became recognised as a 'Benefactor of
Humanity' and it was hence declared that deaf people had rights according to
the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (this declaration
was documented during the French Revolution and defines individual and
collective rights).
* Not long after this, Thomas Braidwood established a
school for the Deaf in Edinburgh in 1760. Twenty three years later he
established the Braidwood Academy for the Deaf and Dumb in Hackney, London.
One of Thomas's graduates was Joseph Watson, who also went on to establish a
well known school for the deaf. In turn, Joseph's most famous graduate was
the inspirational John Lowe who became famous not only for being an
excellent barrister but also, for being the first recorded Deaf Barrister.
* In 1917, Laurent and Lerc (a graduate of l'Épée's
School for the Deaf) established the first ever School for the Deaf in
America. This school had a great reputation for excellence in its field and
became state sponsored in 1819.
Unfortunately, the history of sign language takes a
negative turn at this point in history. From the 1860's onwards, oralism
became popular in Deaf education and as such a number of Oral only schools
were established. Twenty years later, delegates at the Conference of
Educators of the Deaf, voted to implement oralism as the sole method in
schools.
At this point, life became difficult for significant
numbers of Deaf children. Forbidden to use sign language, and as such unable
to express themselves and engage fully in learning opportunities the
potential and well being of many Deaf children became stunted at the best
and inhumanely violated at the worst.
The History of the Deaf did not start to take a more
positive direction until 1974 when it was agreed that British Sign Language
is a language in its own right. From this point, great attention and respect
became generated for it from broader society and Deaf people became better
able and equipped to express themselves in the educational arena. As such,
the acceptance of BSL as a viable and positive language and method of
communication, presented the catalyst for Deaf children to be able to
achieve both personally and educationally.
The fights for British Sign language which have been
fought throughout history have still not ended however. Although 2003 saw
the British Government recognising British Sign Language as a language in
its own right, they have yet to give it legal status. As such, the
accessibility to necessary information and literature which the hearing
population take for granted (such as health, legal, benefits and employment
information) is not automatically made available in the necessary formats to
the Deaf population. As such, this is a fight that continues to be fought.