Fw: BSL isn't English

[Philocophus]

Thought you all would like to read of the sheer ignorance of that person who
is a PhD.!
She continues to post messages in her anti-signs campagns. My reply is after
her mail.

Raymond Lee
Head of Research & Publications
British Deaf History Society
Feltham London. UK.

Philocophus at philocophus.demon.co.uk


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----- Original Message -----
From: "Paulette R. Caswell"
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 2:08 AM
Subject: BSL isn't English


> Go to the website below. Click on "Phrases" on the left side of the
> page. You will get a list of phrases on the next page, on the right.
> Click on "What is your name?" (the first phrase). You will see that
> "What is your name?" is the ENGLISH phrase, but the "BSL" phrase is
> actually "Name what you?"
>
> Now, if you all wish to advocate for deaf people to go around the UK
> saying or writing to hearing people "Name what you?", that's fine. Go
> ahead and support BSL.
>
> [Unfortunately, the rest of the "phrases" are not shown on the BSL
> website, because the people who made this website want you to spend a
> lot of money to "learn" the "translations" of English phrases that are
> "real BSL." Usually, the CD sold by these people are for the hearing
> interpreters. So, the future BSL interpreters will greet you, if you are
> deaf, with the signed phrase... "Name what you?" And if you use a BSL
> interpreter, and a hearing person says to you "What is your name?," all
> you will see from the BSL interpreter is... "Name what you?" If you like
> that, that's fine -- go ahead and support BSL.]
>
>


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> http://www.britishsignlanguage.com/

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Of course BSL IS NOT English, for God's sake! German isn't English! Japanese
isn't English! Urdu isn't English! Or, put it the other way, English isn't
Russian! English isn't Mandarin! English isn't Ibicenos!

BSL is a language in its own right with no written or spoken components - it
is purely sign language. For God's sake, how can you be extremely ignorant
of that fact? You are not a qualified linguist, so go and see those who are
qualified to tell you what any sign languages are. I could have given you a
list of linguists ALL OVER THE WORLD (not living in a little hole in Los
Angeles USC), but the last one you insulted and declined because you knew
the person would put you in your place.

Oh.... my.... God!

Raymond.