What is Sign Language?

What is BSL?

Sign language is a visual way of communicating using hand shapes, facial expressions, body language, and gestures.

What is British Sign Language (BSL)? British Sign Language (BSL) is the natural language used by many Deaf people in the UK. It has its own grammar and structure, completely separate from spoken or written English.

Is BSL the same as English? No, BSL is a separate language. While English is spoken and written, BSL is visual and uses its own grammar, sentence structure, and ways of expressing ideas.

How does BSL differ from other sign languages? BSL is unique to the UK. Just like spoken languages vary between countries, so do sign languages. BSL is different from American Sign Language (ASL), Irish Sign Language (ISL), and others—they are not interchangeable.

Are there regional variations in BSL? Yes. BSL has regional dialects, much like spoken English. People in different parts of the UK might use different signs for the same word, but they can still usually understand each other.

Is BSL recognised as an official language? Yes. BSL was officially recognised as a language by the UK government in 2003. In 2022, the British Sign Language Act was passed, giving it further legal status and support.

When was Sign Language invented? Sign languages have existed for centuries. BSL has evolved over hundreds of years through the Deaf community in Britain. There isn’t a single date it was “invented,” as it developed naturally like any other language. Find out more about the history of signing in the UK on the UCL website. (see Signposts below).

Signposts to further information:

UCL University College London: Find out more about the history of signing in the UK
British Deaf Association (BDA): Information about BSL, Deaf culture, and language rights.
Sign Language on NHS Website: A brief overview of sign language and accessibility.
Signature: The UK's leading awarding body for BSL qualifications—helpful for understanding BSL’s structure and history.