Introduction to BSL Linguistics

Introduction to BSL Introduction to BSL LinguisticsLinguistics

Gary L TaylorGary L Taylor

What is BSL Linguistics?What is BSL Linguistics?

What is & What is not BSL?What is & What is not BSL?Iconicity Iconicity CompoundsCompoundsVerbsVerbsClassifiers – SASSClassifiers – SASSFingerspellingFingerspellingRegional Sign VariationsRegional Sign VariationsBorrowing & Name SignsBorrowing & Name Signs

What is BSL?What is BSL?BSL is not a word for word translation in BSL is not a word for word translation in EnglishEnglishBSL is a visual language which uses BSL is a visual language which uses handshapes, facial expression to express handshapes, facial expression to express meaningmeaningIt has its own Rules & GrammarIt has its own Rules & GrammarBSL has regional variations, just as spoken BSL has regional variations, just as spoken English has accents and local dialectsEnglish has accents and local dialectsFingerspelling is part of BSLFingerspelling is part of BSL

What is NOT BSL?What is NOT BSL?

Cued SpeechCued Speech Paget Gorman SignsPaget Gorman Signs MakatonMakaton Signed English (SE)Signed English (SE) Signed Support English (SSE)Signed Support English (SSE)

LanguageLanguage

English

Spoken Listening

ReadingWriting

One form Primary

One Form Secondary

One Language

LanguageLanguage

BSL

Production Receptive

One form Primary

One Language

Borrow English

Reading Writing (English)

One form Secondary

One Language

Two Language

ICONICITY (VISUAL ICONICITY (VISUAL MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION

HIGH - transparent, show full picture that reduced in HIGH - transparent, show full picture that reduced in scale of actual object or thing that is being copied in scale of actual object or thing that is being copied in shape e.g. TREE, DRINKshape e.g. TREE, DRINK

LESS - have explanation for signs but not very obvious LESS - have explanation for signs but not very obvious e.g. HOUSE, TENNISe.g. HOUSE, TENNIS

ARBITRARY (OR ABSTRACT) - no explanation for signs ARBITRARY (OR ABSTRACT) - no explanation for signs and not very obvious i.e. no reason and unknown for and not very obvious i.e. no reason and unknown for signs with no picture or link e.g. WHY, SISTERsigns with no picture or link e.g. WHY, SISTER

Group work – find 5 examples each?Group work – find 5 examples each?

COMPOUNDSCOMPOUNDS

2 different signs have their own meaning 2 different signs have their own meaning that form a new sign with different that form a new sign with different meaningmeaningSEQUENCE - 2 signs are used one after SEQUENCE - 2 signs are used one after the other in order e.g. TENNIS, BLOOD, the other in order e.g. TENNIS, BLOOD, PEOPLE.PEOPLE.SIMULTANEOUS - 2 signs are used at the SIMULTANEOUS - 2 signs are used at the same time e.g. FAX, PARACHUTE, same time e.g. FAX, PARACHUTE, PRISON.PRISON.

COMPOUNDSCOMPOUNDS

MINICOMMINICOMBELIEVEBELIEVEPARENTSPARENTS

MAINSTREAMMAINSTREAMINTERVIEWINTERVIEWREMEMBERREMEMBER

EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE

Group work - pick which the above are sequence or Group work - pick which the above are sequence or simultaneous? simultaneous?

VERBSVERBS

NOUN - name of a thing or objectNOUN - name of a thing or object

VERB - actionVERB - action

NOUN - CAR, BOOK, FOOD, BROOMNOUN - CAR, BOOK, FOOD, BROOM VERB – DRIVE, READ, EAT, SWEEPVERB – DRIVE, READ, EAT, SWEEP

CLASSIFIERSCLASSIFIERS

Copy exact sign and reduce in size in Copy exact sign and reduce in size in location space. Signs represent things location space. Signs represent things and objects.and objects.

Handshapes: PERSON, PEOPLE, BALLHandshapes: PERSON, PEOPLE, BALLHandling / Grasping: PRAM, WRITE, BRUSHHandling / Grasping: PRAM, WRITE, BRUSH

Group work – find 5 more examples?Group work – find 5 more examples?

FINGERSPELLING (3 GROUPS)FINGERSPELLING (3 GROUPS)

Fingerspelling Signs: APRIL, BRAZIL, Fingerspelling Signs: APRIL, BRAZIL, EDINBURGHEDINBURGH

Fingerspelling pattern: JOB, CLUB, BUS, NEWSFingerspelling pattern: JOB, CLUB, BUS, NEWS

Fingerspelling Initialised (first letter):Fingerspelling Initialised (first letter): Tapped Twice (same letter) - KITCHEN Tapped Twice (same letter) - KITCHEN MOTHER, YELLOWMOTHER, YELLOW

FINGERSPELLING (3 GROUPS)FINGERSPELLING (3 GROUPS)

Circular - CLASS, VIDEO, GREY Circular - CLASS, VIDEO, GREY Movement to or from Body COMMUNICATION, Movement to or from Body COMMUNICATION, CONVERSATIONCONVERSATION

On the BodyOn the Body - - CONFIDENT, COMFORTABLECONFIDENT, COMFORTABLE

Group work - find 5 examples each?Group work - find 5 examples each?

REGIONAL SIGN VARIATIONSREGIONAL SIGN VARIATIONS(RSV)(RSV)

Social ClassSocial ClassAgeAgeMen & WomanMen & WomanEthnic groupEthnic groupReligion groupsReligion groups

Group work – Is there are Regional Sign Variation?Group work – Is there are Regional Sign Variation?

REGIONAL SIGN VARIATIONSREGIONAL SIGN VARIATIONS(RSV)(RSV)

Numbers & MoneyNumbers & MoneyColoursColoursClothesClothesDay of the weekDay of the weekFamilyFamilyPeople, Man, Woman, News, BirthdayPeople, Man, Woman, News, Birthday

Group work – Why there are Regional Sign Variations? Group work – Why there are Regional Sign Variations? Deaf School (& residential), Deaf Clubs and Deaf Deaf School (& residential), Deaf Clubs and Deaf

Families (Generation) Families (Generation)

Borrowing SignsBorrowing Signs

Loans into BSL from other language:Loans into BSL from other language: I LOVE YOU, WOW, OK, ATTITUDEI LOVE YOU, WOW, OK, ATTITUDE

Loans Translations: ICELAND, GREENLANDLoans Translations: ICELAND, GREENLANDFingerspelling Loans: CONFIDENCE, Fingerspelling Loans: CONFIDENCE, DAUGHTERDAUGHTER11stst letter Fingerspelling: Recommend, Proposal letter Fingerspelling: Recommend, Proposal

Find – 5 examples of borrowing signs & fingerspelling?Find – 5 examples of borrowing signs & fingerspelling?

Name SignsName Signs

Brand Names: Audi, Renault, ArsenalBrand Names: Audi, Renault, Arsenal

Places: Blackpool, Paris, SydneyPlaces: Blackpool, Paris, Sydney

Personal Names Signs: Nos.., Deaf Personal Names Signs: Nos.., Deaf School, Physical Character.School, Physical Character.

Name Signs (Personal Names)Name Signs (Personal Names)

School NumbersSchool NumbersPhysical Character - distinguishing featuresPhysical Character - distinguishing featuresCharacter trait - temper, obsessionCharacter trait - temper, obsessionPersonal Information - person from other country Personal Information - person from other country or specific job, hobbyor specific job, hobbyLoan Translation - Kay, Mr Rice, FloraLoan Translation - Kay, Mr Rice, FloraFirst / Second name - Alex, Margaret, YoungFirst / Second name - Alex, Margaret, YoungFixed names - Carpenter, Wood, Brown, Green Fixed names - Carpenter, Wood, Brown, Green

Group work – find 3 examples each?Group work – find 3 examples each?

Glossary of TermsGlossary of Terms

AccentAccentAccuracyAccuracyAdverbsAdverbsAffirmationAffirmationAmbiguitiesAmbiguitiesAspectAspectAuxiliariesAuxiliariesAspectual ModelAspectual Model

BasicBasicBuoysBuoysClassifierClassifierCohesionCohesionColloquial(-ism)Colloquial(-ism)ComplexComplexCompoundCompoundConditionalConditional

Glossary of TermsGlossary of Terms

ConventionConventionContextContextDialectDialectDiscourse CohesionDiscourse CohesionMarkersMarkersEnumeratingEnumeratingEvaluateEvaluateEverydayEveryday

ExpressionsExpressionsExtractExtractFamiliarFamiliarFluencyFluencyFormatFormatGistGistGrammarGrammarIdiomIdiom

Glossary of TermsGlossary of Terms

ImperativeImperativeInfinitiveInfinitiveIntonation or prosodyIntonation or prosodyInterrogativeInterrogativeLexiconLexiconFrozenFrozenProductiveProductiveManipulateManipulate

ModificationModificationModulationModulationNegativeNegativeNuanceNuancePhaticPhaticPhrasePhrasePositivePositivePresentationPresentation

Glossary of TermsGlossary of Terms

ProformProformPronounPronounPronunciationPronunciationRegisterRegisterRole shiftRole shiftRoutineRoutineScanScanSentenceSentence

SettingSettingSimpleSimpleSimultaneitySimultaneitySituationSituationSpeedSpeedSpecifierSpecifierStructuresStructuresStyleStyle

Why is BSL Linguistics important to Why is BSL Linguistics important to teaching BSL?teaching BSL?

2 aims:2 aims:To describe language as fully as possibleTo describe language as fully as possibleTo ask why language are the way they areTo ask why language are the way they are

Who needs to know the Linguistics of BSL?Who needs to know the Linguistics of BSL?Learners: they can learn it better and can Learners: they can learn it better and can compare the language they know the language compare the language they know the language they are learningthey are learningTeacher: Teacher: they can explain when and why they can explain when and why something a learner signs is wrong and how to something a learner signs is wrong and how to sign it right sign it right