BSL Level 3

Gary L Taylor Lesson 8

1

Welcome back

Last lesson

Learning Outcome 1: Understand the key features of BSL:

• Describe the difference between a spoken and a signed language

• Describe ‘established’ and ‘productive’ lexicons

• Describe the range of BSL verbs

• Give examples of the different sign types

2

Mock Exam

Mock Exam for Learning Outcome 1:

Refer to written paper

20 minutes

3

Linguistics Knowledge

Unit BSL320 Sign Linguistics Knowledge

Learning Outcome 2:

Know a range of sign language sentence structures. Applying signs and set phrases in varied work or social situations

4

Range of sign language

Know a range of sign language sentence structures. Applying signs and set phrases in varied work or social situations:

• Describe features used in negation

• Describe the types of BSL question forms

• Define classifiers and describe how they function

• Give examples of connectives that will add fluency to the structure of a sentence

5

Negation

What is negation?

A grammatical way of using negative BSL signs.

It has 3 main elements:

Facial expression

Head movement – (head turn and headshake)

Negation signs

Each element must be in use to produce effective negation in BSL

6

Facial expression

Facial expression

Two different types:

Mild - Light

Extreme - Heavy

Examples please!

Includes mouth patterns e.g. ‘boo’, ‘vee’

7

Negation signs

Negation signs

English has many negation words:

No, never, not, won’t, can’t un-….

8

Group work Group exercise

examples please of BSL negative signs:

9

BSL question forms

BSL question forms

Questions in BSL conform to a set structure which include:

• A word or sign that signals a question

• An intonation pattern or facial expression

• A characteristic word or sign order

10

Question types

Question types

• Open questions – where a longer answer is required

• Closed questions - yes/no answers

• WH questions e.g. what, where, when, why

• Rhetorical – does not need an answer

• Alternative questions – with the answer offered as a choice e.g. like tea, coffee, milk, sugar which?

11

Group work Group exercise

Practice asking questions in small groups, taking turns. Make sure to use each question type.

Practice replying using negation

12

Classifier (Hand-shape)

What is a classifier?

A classifier is a productive part of BSL vocabulary and uses handshapes and space to add meaning – for example, ‘the car went past’

3 different part

13

Classifiers 1

Classifiers

Size and shape specifiers – describe the physical features of objects – their size and shape

14

Classifiers 2

Tracing classifiers

closely linked to size and shape specifiers, the hands give a clue to the shape e.g. window, square (e.g. G hand-shape)

15

Classifiers 3

Classifiers

Handling and instrument classifiers – categorise objects in terms of how people handle them e.g. closed fists used for handling ski poles (e.g. As Hand-shape)

16

Connectors

Connectors

Connectors are signs that are used to link together and complete sentences.

Examples please?

Pauses

‘As well’, ‘also’, ‘because’

Head nods

17

Homework

Homework

Please revise everything from today and do some further background reading

Brief mock exam on this unit in the next class!

18

See you on next lesson

Thursday 3rd June 2014 – at 5pm – 9pm

19