Katie Mayne, founder and teacher-trainer of TinyTalk UK has completed and passed Levels 1 and 2 in British Sign Language.

Our classes use BSL signs with the babies. Over 100 signs are used within our songs and teaching. BSL is not just making hand shapes. Facial expression and body language are both intrinsic and fundamental in conveying the correct message. It is also important that your baby can see your face, particularly your lip patterns and mouth movements, when you sign to them. When making the sign we always make sure that we have the real object to hand if possible. For example we point to the fish when we make the sign ‘fish’, we show the milk when we sign ‘milk’ or we actually experience being cold when we make the sign ‘cold’. The babies start to make the linguistic connections between the objects or experiences with what they are called. If a sign can be used two ways to mean two different things, we make sure that both ways are taught. For example the two signs for ‘hot’, depending on whether it is about hot food or drink to be consumed or about a hot day, or the modification of the ‘rain’ sign to signify light or heavy rain.

When BSL is used in communication with a Deaf child, speech is not used. Signs are made in BSL order (subject first) and not in English word order. For example, “The girl was wearing a red dress” would be signed as “girl dress red wearing”. When BSL is used within Sign Supported English (SSE), for example with a deaf child that has some hearing and/or understanding of English, the signs are used in English word order and the words are said at the same time as the signs are made.

When signs are used with hearing children we always say the words at the same time. We clearly make the sign ourselves and gently mould the babies’ hands to do the same. We also explicitly show what our mouth is doing to be able to make the words: the position of our lips, tongue and teeth. Babies make attempts to sound the words. Speech sounds develop at different stages though, for example ‘b’, ‘m’ and ‘d’ are some of the first speech sounds made whereas ‘k’ and ‘g’ are some of the last. That’s why ‘mama’, ‘dada’ and ‘baba’ are usually the first utterances! Words such as ‘food’ will often begin as ‘boo’.

BSL has recently been fully recognised for being a language in its own right. Learning BSL through our classes enables everyone to begin communication with the Deaf Community. It has also inspired many people, both parents and teachers, to learn more about it and actually enroll on BSL courses. For more information on BSL and to find your nearest college for courses, contact CACDP (The Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People) at www.cacdp.org.uk

BSL signs are also learnt by many hearing children at school. Some are taught signs because there are deaf children using sign in their school. Others learn BSL because it is now recognised as a language in its own right and it is being introduced into schools across the country. Some children are also taught signs by the teachers or support staff because it significantly aids their understanding of language which then helps their understanding of the wider curriculum. There are many profound ways that signs are used to aid communication at all levels.