History of British Sign Language (BSL)?

[Shane Gilchrist O hEorpa]

Trevor,

Formal BSL was first used in Braidwood's Academy in Edinburgh - im not
sure re: the date but its deffo in the 1700s.

Yes, the number of people taking night classes are dropping like fast
- therefore less people taking CACDP exams etc - its normal really -
with the majority of adults in the UK not having time for night school
etc.

My work covers the UK as well (we teach in 15 schools in London so
far!) - its NISL & ISL teaching in Northern Ireland, BSL teaching in
England & Scotland

:-)

hope you are well,

a busy Shane

On 4/2/06, Trevor Jenkins <trevor.jenkins at suneidesis.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 1 Apr 2006, Valerie Sutton <sutton at signwriting.org> wrote:
>
> > I received this message asking me about the history of BSL. Can
> > anyone answer these questions for us? ;-)
>
> All we know for certain is that BSL was well established by 1575 when a
> certain Thomas Tillsye was married. The report of his wedding to Ursula
> Ruddell included a description of signs he used. The specific details are
> quoted in "The Linguistics of BSL" by Rachel Sutton-Spence and Bencie Woll
> (Cambridge, 1999, p34).
>
> In answer to the second question. CACDP (the organisation currently
> responsible for awarding qualifications in BSL) claims that learning the
> language is one of the most popular subjects taken in evening classes. As
> for schools teaching it there are few (and getting fewer) --- though
> Shane's work in Norhtern Ireland is the start of a reinesance for BSL
> teaching in school. There are some Deaf schools where BSL is the language
> of tution but sadly they are not that numerous; two examples are Frank
> Barnes School in N W London and Hamilton Lodge in Brighton.
>
> The situation may change with the introduction of a second syllabus BSL.
> This time from the British Deaf Association. The advantage of this new
> approach is the formal definition of course content is given in BSL itself
> not written in English as the one from CACDP.
>
> However, the situation will not change very much until such time as the
> British Government does more than pay lip service to BSL. They may have
> recognised the language but there is so far no legislation to require or
> protect its use.
>
> > > Hello,
> > >> I am french. My english is not very good, but I would like know
> > >> when the BSL was invented, why, who has invented ? I would like
> > >> know this history.
> > >> And, I have a a second question, I would like know if there are a
> > >> lot of school in Great Britain to learn the BSL, and how the deaf
> > >> persons learn this language ?
> > >>
> > >> I must to give a talk on for my teacher. I have research somme
> > >> informations,but it's not the very good informations also, that's
> > >> why I ask you.
> > >>
> > >> I thank you very much for all.
> > >>
> >
>
> Regards, Trevor
>
> <>< Re: deemed!
>
>
>