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<p><b>Introduction 1</b></p> <p>About This Book 1</p> <p>Conventions Used in This Book 1</p> <p>Foolish Assumptions 2</p> <p>How This Book Is Organised 3</p> <p>Part I: Starting to Sign 3</p> <p>Part II: Everyday BSL 3</p> <p>Part III: Getting Out and About 3</p> <p>Part IV: Looking into Deaf Life 3</p> <p>Part V: The Part of Tens 3</p> <p>Part VI: Appendixes 4</p> <p>Icons Used in This Book 4</p> <p>Where to Go from Here 4</p> <p><b>Part I: Starting to Sign 5</b></p> <p><b>Chapter 1: Discovering Who’s Who – and How They Communicate 7</b></p> <p>Different Groups of Deaf People 7</p> <p>Who’s dumb? 7</p> <p>Understanding who’s who 8</p> <p> and how do they communicate? 10</p> <p>Attracting a Deaf Person’s Attention? 13</p> <p>Touching on the arm or shoulder 13</p> <p>Waving 14</p> <p>Stamping on the floor 14</p> <p>Switching the light on and off 14</p> <p>Watch My Lips! 14</p> <p><b>Chapter 2: Sign Language You Didn’t Know You Knew 17</b></p> <p>Signs That Make Sense 17</p> <p>Gestures 17</p> <p>How do you sign this word? 18</p> <p>How does BSL create new signs? 19</p> <p>Making It Clear with Body Language 20</p> <p>Let Me Spell It Out: Finger-spelling 20</p> <p>Left or right? 22</p> <p>Watch my lips – not my fingers 23</p> <p>Now you see it, now you don’t 23</p> <p>Funny Faces 24</p> <p>Using funny faces 25</p> <p>No! Not me! 25</p> <p>Oh yes! 25</p> <p>Are you happy? 25</p> <p>Getting Your Hands into Shape 26</p> <p>What is a hand shape? 26</p> <p>Simple Sentences: Sign Order 28</p> <p>Chronological order 28</p> <p>Question forms 28</p> <p><b>Part II: Everyday BSL 31</b></p> <p><b>Chapter 3: Meeting and Greeting 33</b></p> <p>Greetings! Starting a Conversation 33</p> <p>Asking questions: Who? What? Why? When? Where? Which? How? 34</p> <p>WH questions (open) 35</p> <p>Yes/no questions (closed) 36</p> <p>Rhetorical questions 37</p> <p>Getting to Know You 37</p> <p>What’s in a Name? 40</p> <p>Where do you live? 40</p> <p>So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye 47</p> <p><b>Chapter 4: Knowing Me, Knowing You 53</b></p> <p>Don’t Point! It’s Rude! Or Is It? 53</p> <p>Telling Others about Yourself 54</p> <p>Family and friends 54</p> <p>Talking about your job 58</p> <p>Discussing your workplace 60</p> <p><b>Chapter 5: Expressing Your Feelings 69</b></p> <p>How’s Life? Talking about Your Feelings 69</p> <p>You OK? Talking about your health 75</p> <p>Where does it hurt? 79</p> <p>Just take one of these 85</p> <p>999 Emergency 88</p> <p><b>Chapter 6: Nailing Numbers 95</b></p> <p>Explaining Regional Signs 95</p> <p>Numbers? Count me in 96</p> <p>Who’s first? 102</p> <p>Telling the time 103</p> <p>Talking about money 105</p> <p>Asking someone’s age 107</p> <p><b>Chapter 7: Describing Weather, Colour, and Clothes 119</b></p> <p>Signing Come Rain, Come Shine 119</p> <p>Describing Colours 123</p> <p>Developing Dress Sense 125</p> <p>Eyeing up everyday clothes 126</p> <p>Mentioning the unmentionables 129</p> <p>Wrapping up winter warmth 130</p> <p>Putting a spring in your signs 134</p> <p>Summer sun (if you’re lucky) 135</p> <p><b>Part III: Getting Out and About 141</b></p> <p><b>Chapter 8: Getting from A to B 143</b></p> <p>Signing Space 143</p> <p>Placement of signs 144</p> <p>Prepositions 144</p> <p>How Do I Get to ? 145</p> <p>Getting to and from work 148</p> <p>Location, location, location 152</p> <p>Looking out for local landmarks 153</p> <p>Countryside landmarks 157</p> <p>Out on the Town 159</p> <p><b>Chapter 9: Arranging Not So Blind Dates 167</b></p> <p>Getting Tense about Time 167</p> <p>Arranging to Meet 169</p> <p>Today’s the day 169</p> <p>When shall we meet? 172</p> <p>Mastering months 178</p> <p>Special Celebrations 181</p> <p><b>Chapter 10: Fancy Fish and Chips? 189</b></p> <p>On Today’s Menu 189</p> <p>Which knife and fork to use? 189</p> <p>Want breakfast? 193</p> <p>Grabbing a quick lunch 197</p> <p>Tea, a drink with jam and bread 204</p> <p>What’s for dinner? 206</p> <p>Eating Out 209</p> <p>Take-away food 210</p> <p>Fancy a drink anyone? 213</p> <p><b>Chapter 11: Making the Most of Your Free Time 217</b></p> <p>Having Fun with Leisure Activities 217</p> <p>Getting Sporty 222</p> <p>Playing Indoor Games 230</p> <p>Having Fun with Hobbies 234</p> <p><b>Part IV: Looking into Deaf Life 243</b></p> <p><b>Chapter 12: Deaf Community and Culture 245</b></p> <p>Digging Into the History of BSL 245</p> <p>Exploring the Origins of Deaf Education 246</p> <p>Deaf 1880 Milan conference 246</p> <p>The oral method 247</p> <p>Enlightenment at last! 247</p> <p>The Social Side of the Deaf World 247</p> <p>Discovering Deaf clubs 248</p> <p>Embracing the new 248</p> <p>Access for Deaf people – Language Service Professionals (LSPs) 249</p> <p>Investigating interpreters 249</p> <p>Communicators/Communication Support Workers (CSWs) 251</p> <p>Lipspeakers 251</p> <p>Manual notetakers 253</p> <p>Electronic note-takers 253</p> <p>Palantypist/speech-to-text reporter (STTR) 254</p> <p>LSP etiquette 254</p> <p><b>Chapter 13: Technology and Modifications for Deaf People 257</b></p> <p>Keeping in Touch 257</p> <p>Minicoms and Text-phones 258</p> <p>Type-Talk and Text-Direct 259</p> <p>SMS 259</p> <p>Fax machines 259</p> <p>Email 260</p> <p>Videophones/webcams 260</p> <p>Wakey-wakey! Flashing Lights and Vibrating Alarms 260</p> <p>Somebody at the door 261</p> <p>Fire! Fire!/Baby’s crying! 261</p> <p>Wake-up call 261</p> <p><b>Part V: The Part of Tens 263</b></p> <p><b>Chapter 14: Ten Top Tips to Improve Your Signing Skills 265</b></p> <p>Watch My Face 265</p> <p>RSVP Please 265</p> <p>Showing the Sign! 266</p> <p>Spotting the Difference 266</p> <p>Being Honest 266</p> <p>Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall 266</p> <p>Being a Film Star 267</p> <p>Keeping a Record 267</p> <p>Hare or Tortoise? 267</p> <p>The Way of the World 267</p> <p><b>Chapter 15: Ten Top Tips For Good Communication 269</b></p> <p>Get an Attitude 269</p> <p>Lights, Camera Action! 270</p> <p>Does He Take Sugar? 270</p> <p>Get Body-Conscious 270</p> <p>What’s the Point? 271</p> <p>Keep Clear – Access Required 271</p> <p>Be Environmentally Friendly 272</p> <p>One at a Time Please! 272</p> <p>English versus BSL 272</p> <p>Don’t Give Up! 273</p> <p><b>Chapter 16: Ten Top BSL Resources 275</b></p> <p>Honing Your Skills at BSL Classes 275</p> <p>Attending a Communication Club 275</p> <p>Going to Deaf Pubs 276</p> <p>Taking a Trip to the Theatre or Cinema 276</p> <p>Attending Deaf Workshops and Conferences 277</p> <p>Watching BSL Signed DVDs 277</p> <p>Taking in TV Programmes 277</p> <p>Wising Up to Websites 278</p> <p>Weighing Up Webcams 278</p> <p>Making Deaf Friends 278</p> <p><b>Chapter 17: Ten Really Useful Phrases 279</b></p> <p>How Are You? 279</p> <p>You All Right? 280</p> <p>Again, Please 280</p> <p>I’m Sorry 281</p> <p>I Don’t Understand 281</p> <p>Do You Need Help? 282</p> <p>That’s Right! 282</p> <p>That’s Bad/Wrong! 283</p> <p>Excuse Me 283</p> <p>See You Around/Soon! 284</p> <p><b>Chapter 18: Ten Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know about Deaf Culture and History 285</b></p> <p>British Sign Language (BSL) 285</p> <p>St John of Beverley 286</p> <p>Early Signs of Sign Language 286</p> <p>Vows of Silence 286</p> <p>To Read and Write – Right? 286</p> <p>Finger-spelling Circa 1720 287</p> <p>Give Us a Bell 287</p> <p>Deaf Church to Department Store 287</p> <p>The Queen Amused Others 287</p> <p>Deaf to the Crowd 288</p> <p><b>Part VI: Appendixes 289</b></p> <p>Appendix A: Answer Key to Fun & Games 291</p> <p>Appendix B: About the Online Content 293</p> <p>What You’ll Find Online 293</p> <p>Dialogues 293</p> <p>Customer Care 295</p> <p>Index 297</p>

<p>This book is written and illustrated by a team from the Faculty of Deaf Education and Learning Support at City Lit. City Lit is a London-based adult education centre, providing courses to over 24,000 students every year. The Faculty of Deaf Education and Learning Support provides a comprehensive programme of courses and training including accredited British Sign Language courses for both Deaf and hearing learners.</p>

<p><b><i>Learn to:</i></b><BR> <ul><li>Get to grips with everyday BSL grammar and vocabulary</li> <li>Use your body as a communication tool</li> <li>Understand Deaf culture</li> <li>Start signing right away using the online content</li></ul> <p><b>Learn British Sign Language quickly and easily with this essential guide and online content</b> <p>This lively guide introduces the key hand shapes and gestures you need to communicate in British Sign Language. The illustrations depict both the actions and facial expressions used to sign accurately, while the online content features real-life BSL conversations in action. With these practical tools, you'll become an expert signer in no time! <ul><li>Start to sign learn about Deaf communication and practise simple signs to get you going</li> <li>Learn everyday BSL — develop the grammar and vocabulary skills that are the building blocks to using British Sign Language</li> <li>Get out and about — sign with confidence in a wide range of real life situations, from travelling to dating</li> <li>Look into Deaf life — learn about the history of the Deaf Community and how they've adapted their technology and lifestyles to suit their needs</li></ul> <p><b>Open the book and find:</b> <li>How Deaf people communicate</li> <li>Basic vocabulary signs and grammar rules</li> <li>How to introduce yourself and get to know someone in Sign</li> <li>Different ways to express your feelings</li> <li>How to describe yourself and your surroundings</li> <li>Games and activities to help you practise your signing technique</li> <li>The history of British Sign Language and Deaf culture</li> <li>Full illustrations of BSL signs</li> <li>Online content showing signing in action</li></ul>

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