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View Full Version : Should I learn British or American Sign Language?


imsurroundedbyfish
Aug 10, 2011, 04:10 AM
Last week I went away on camp, and spent a lot of time with some fluent signers. I was inspired to learn sign language.

When I came back home, and started looking into it a bit more, I realised there were two types of sign language, ASL and BSL (american sign language and british sign language). I don't know which one I should learn.

BSL would probably be of more use to me because I live in England, however it seems to be harder to get hold of resources to help me learn.

From what I have seen, ASL looks easier, both from an ease-of-learning perspective and from an ease-of-resource-access perspective. But I have noticed that most ASL is aimed at parents teaching young babies to sign so that they can communicate before they can talk.

So which would be better for me to learn? I don't know much about sign language!

Thanks in advance x

joypulv
Aug 10, 2011, 04:27 AM
ASL is aimed at parents for babies? I'm not sure where that idea comes from? I would learn ASL to start and then find the resources to learn BSL too. They can't be that hard to find, and you should have practice with real people if you can.

imsurroundedbyfish
Aug 10, 2011, 07:20 AM
ASL is aimed at parents for babies? I'm not sure where that idea comes from?

Sorry I wasn't very clear about that, I meant the only resources I could find were for parents teaching babies

Curlyben
Aug 10, 2011, 07:23 AM
Just to slightly confuse things there's also Makaton, as used by Justin in Something Special.

About Makaton (http://www.makaton.org/about/about.htm)
This is more straightforward than the more formal sign languages and better for youngsters.