BSL is a living language, indigenous to the UK, which has evolved naturally over hundreds of years. It is at the heart of the Deaf community, its culture and its history.

BSL is a visual language, as English is a spoken language. It is a language in its own right with its own grammar - it is not based on English, nor is it an international language. It is at least as complex and sophisticated as any spoken language.

The BDA estimate that there are approximately 70,000 people in Britain whose first or preferred language is BSL. There are as many Deaf BSL-users as there are speakers of Scottish Gaelic, and more people (Deaf and hearing) use BSL than either Welsh or Gaelic. For many Deaf people English is only their second or even third language.

Walsall Deaf People's Centre runs courses on BSL and also Deaf Awareness.

For more information contact julie.wdpc@virgin.net