ABSTRACT
Many people believe that the hands are the focal point of sign language. However, many elements of sign languages such as British Sign Language (BSL) are conveyed through the non-manual features of the language. BSL is an indigenous British language that many Deaf people use as their native language. The term 'visual-spatial' refers to both the perception and production of BSL: it is produced in a medium perceived visually, using movement of the hands, arms, head and the upper part of body, including the face. Different varieties of BSL exist throughout the United Kingdom that can be considered similar to different dialects of spoken English. Sign language was first brought to the attention of the linguistics world by William Stokoe, in the United States, during the 1960s. In Britain, inspired by Stokoe's work, Mary Brennan established a research group known as the Edinburgh British Sign Language Project, in 1979, culminating in the publication of the influential Words in Hand.
