UK government recognises BSL

Wed Mar 26 17:14:51 UTC 2003

congrats bencie
and thanks for the text adopted. can we get the bill that was proposed, how was it worded?
thanx so much
elena
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: B. Woll 
  To: SLLING-L at ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA 
  Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 11:01 AM
  Subject: UK government recognises BSL

  The following is a statement issued by the British government on 18 March - an important first step!

  You may also find the attached transcript of a Parliamentary debate on BSL earlier this week of interest.

  Bencie Woll
  -----------------------------

  Reference        CSD1803-Sign  Date   18 March 2003 Government recognition and £1 million boost for British Sign Language The Government has today taken the formal step of recognising British Sign Language (BSL) as a language in its own right.  It has also allocated £1 million funding for initiatives to support the move. Following publication of the Government's Position Statement on British Sign Language, Secretary of State Andrew Smith told a gathering of representatives from Deaf organisations: "What we are saying today is important for the 70,000 or so Deaf people for whom British Sign Language is their first or preferred language for participating in everyday life, and for their families. But it is also important for the rest of society to understand that BSL is a language and what this means. "Symbolism is very important of course but the statement is about more than that. Across Government we have taken a number of steps to increase access to BSL and we are today announcing a £1 million programme of initiatives to support the statement." Maria Eagle, Minister for Disabled People, explained how the funding will be spent: "Among our priorities are raising awareness of the communication needs of Deaf people who use BSL and increasing opportunities for people to study BSL at a professional level."  The British Deaf Association welcomed the move:  

  "The British Deaf Association, the lead organisation of Deaf sign language users, has been campaigning for over 20 years for this decision and we are delighted to receive the news. We are grateful to the UK Council on Deafness for the important contribution they have made in bringing together their member organisations to support the BDA's campaign.  There is still a long way to go before equality is achieved, but this is a milestone achievement for the Deaf community. The BDA looks forward to working closely with the Government on this issue."  

  Notes for Editors Full text of Position Statement on British Sign Language issued today:   

  The Government recognises that British Sign Language (BSL) is a language in its own right regularly used by a significant number of people. For an estimated 70,000 Deaf people it is their preferred language for participation in everyday life. BSL is a visual-gestural language with its own vocabulary, grammar and syntax. 

  The Government understands that people who use BSL want their language to be protected and promoted in the same way some minority languages are by the Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The Council is considering how that might be achieved for indigenous sign languages. The Government will give careful consideration to any proposals which the Council might make.      

  The Government has already taken action to improve access to BSL, for example by identifying situations where it might be reasonable for employers and service providers to engage the services of a BSL/English interpreter. 

  The Government will be funding a discrete programme of initiatives to support this statement. 
    1.. The Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages aims to protect and promote regional and minority languages used in Europe. It was not intended to cover indigenous sign languages.
    1.. The £1 million programme of initiatives announced today will include projects to raise awareness of BSL particularly among employers and service providers, to increase opportunities to study BSL to a professional level, and to research Deaf people's take-up and experiences of accessing services. 
    1.. Digital pictures from this morning's reception for representatives of Deaf organisations will be available on request.

  Press office                     020 7238 0866

  Out of hours                   07659 108883

  Public enquiries            020 7712 2171

  Website                              www.dwp.gov.uk

  -- 
  Professor Bencie Woll
  Chair of Sign Language & Deaf Studies, Department of Language and Communication Science
  City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB 
  +44 (0)20 7040 8354 (tel.) +44 (0)20 7040 8314 (minicom) +44 (0)20 7040 8577 (fax)
  b.woll at city.ac.uk   www.city.ac.uk/lcs

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