The Evening Telegraph •
Friday, January 6, 2006
Each week, our entertainments reporter tries out
a new activity. This time, Duncan hall meets Stamford-based Garry
Slack, a communication support worker for deaf people, to learn the
basics of British Sign Language.
How to do.. sign language
HERE’S a good bit of trivia for a pub quiz – what is
Britain’s fourth most used indigenous language?
English obviously takes the top spot, with Scottish and Welsh Gaelic
taking the second and third spots. But following close behind, with
an estimated 50,000 users, is British Sign Language (BSL). Stamford-based
Garry Slack, who is a communication support worker for deaf people,
first became interested in sign language while working as an actor,
after the show he was working on had a performance signed by a BSL
interpreter. His first lesson was a fairly fearsome experience, though.
He said: “There were 25 of us in a semi-circle of chairs sitting
there as the deaf tutor pointed at us and signed if we knew finger-spelling.
“I came out after two hours thinking I would never learn it.
I persevered, though, as the class got smaller.”
As Garry worked through the three levels of BSL and eventually qualified
as a communication support worker, he wanted to pass on his discovery
of the language, but recognised the huge commitment that the normal
year-long courses required. He regularly runs short courses in BSL
to introduce people to the language and hopefully encourage them
to take on the level one course.
He said: “It is such a beautiful language. Like all languages,
it evolves. There are now different words for telephone and mobile
phone.”
It also picks up words from popular culture. To say Asda, the official
BSL sign is to tap your bottom as in the famous adverts. James Bond
is signed by holding a pretend gun to your shoulder as in the posters.
To say EastEnders you draw the shape of the River Thames on the opening
credits. And the sign for Peterborough is pushing your nose up as
if you were posh (geddit?).
BSL even has regional variations like English does – with signs
for things such as colours changing according to the part of the
world where you are. The basic skill in BSL is finger-spelling, where
each letter of the alphabet is represented by a different sign. Garry
talked me through the basics of finger-spelling, some of which I
could recall from my Cub Scout days. It is amazing how quick it is
to pick up, and easy to retain, following quite logical shapes for
each letter. For example, all five vowel signs are shown by pointing
to your five fingers – the thumb is A, the index finger is
E, the middle finger is I, the ring finger is O and the little finger
is U. Letters such as B, C, D, K, P, Q, T, V and X very closely resemble
how they look. And all the other letters are so distinctive it isn’t
difficult to recall them.
He said: “Finger-spelling is used for names of people,
places and things, or if you don’t know the word for something.
When doing BSL, you have to think in a very different way – you
have to think totally visually.
It is a very direct language. In English you would say something
like ‘My name is Garry’, whereas in BSL it is ‘name
Garry’.”
Garry works both with adults and young people to teach the basics
of sign language. He has worked with Millennium Volunteers, and with
nursery nurses to help them comply with the Disability Discrimination
Act. He is now freelance having worked with charities Sense, Deafblind
UK and as the qualified communication support worker for Stamford
College. A project he is currently working on is Happy Handz, which
is aimed at mothers and toddlers who can hear, which teaches finger
spelling and a vocabulary of 150 basic signs over six weeks through
songs and stories. The next session is being held in Stamford from
Wednesday, February 22.
Garry said: “Research shows that muscles in the hands
develop before muscles in the larynx, so children can learn
to communicate using their hands and make sense using BSL before
they can speak.”
Garry’s company, ABC Deaf Communication and Training Services,
offers a range of other courses, too, including a two-day taster
session at Peterborough College Of Adult Education, in Brook Street,
on Saturday, February 4, and Saturday, February 25. It is a real
eye-opener to see what you can do with what is essentially another
language – and is useful even if you don’t have hearing
problems, as anyone who has ever tried to get a message across a
crowded bar would testify.
Why do it:
There is always something satisfying about learning a new language,
and with BSL you can not only communicate with the deaf, you will
also learn a new visual skill that can help you communicate without
screaming at the top of your lungs.
You will need:
A pair of hands, a willingness to learn and a fair amount of concentration.
It will cost:
Six-week courses cost £10 a session. The Happy Handz course
costs £50 for a six-week session for as many members of the
family as you like. The Peterborough College of Adult Education starter
Saturday courses cost £40 for two sessions.
Where to go:
The two-session Peterborough College of Adult Education courses are
on Saturday, February 4, and Saturday, February 25, or Saturday,
May 13, and Saturday, June 10, from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The six-week
Happy Handz course starts in Stamford on Wednesday, February 22.
For more information call Garry on the number below.
More info:
Call Garry on 07851 907359 or e-mail him on gs.abc@btinternet.com.
Alternatively, call the college on 01733 761361.
All details correct at 06/01/06
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