ABSTRACT

This first linguistic study of British Sign Language is written for students of linguistics, for deaf and hearing sign language researchers, for teachers and social workers for the deaf. The author cross-refers to American Sign Language, which has usually been more extensively studied by linguists, and compares the two languages.

chapter 1|26 pages

What is BSL?

chapter 2|20 pages

The origin and use of BSL

chapter 3|34 pages

The structure of BSL signs

chapter 4|25 pages

The grammar of BSL

chapter 5|24 pages

BSL and ASL

chapter 6|21 pages

Variation in BSL

chapter 7|26 pages

The acquisition of sign language

chapter 8|14 pages

Doing sign language research

chapter 9|23 pages

Conclusion: BSL and linguistic theory