British Sign Language (BSL) is, for the majority of Deaf people, the only language in which they can access information - from learning about current affairs on TV to finding services provided by councils and businesses.

So what exactly is British Sign Language?

Unlike spoken languages such as English, there is no written form of BSL. Language is expressed using the hands, face and body. In spoken languages, the voice can convey a range of emotions. Deaf BSL users convey emotion and intonation through facial expression, which forms approximately 80% of British Sign Language. BSL has its own grammar and sentence structure, which is quite different from English. A full and rich language, BSL is both fascinating and beautiful to see!

Did you know that there are regional variations of BSL, just as there are regional dialects of English? Contrary to popular belief, British Sign Language is not universal. Each country has its own Signed Language with regional dialects.

As with any language, British Sign Language is an evolving language and therefore different age groups can have different signs for the same thing (as with English words).

There are many technical aspects to BSL/ English translation including the appropriate translation of cultural differences between the Deaf and hearing communities. For this reason, all of our translation work is monitored by native Deaf BSL users.

We can translate your existing material, or we can work with you on a completely new project!