BSL has different styles, known as registers, which vary based on the context and your relationship with the person you’re signing with (or to). These can be broadly categorised as formal and informal.
You’ll be familiar with using formal or informal language in English, even if you don’t actively think about it. For example, how you communicate with your friends is different to how you’d communicate with your boss or a teacher.
However, formal and informal are broad categories and there’s usually somewhat of a middle ground you’d typically use for everyday conversation.
We recommend you try to interact with Deaf BSL users at Deaf clubs or events to try and gain more practice with different signers in different settings. You can also follow Deaf BSL users on social media for some extra receptive practice.
Formal vs. Informal BSL
| Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
| Used in professional or official environments such as job interviews, work meetings, academic presentations or formal speeches. | Used in more relaxed or casual environments such as with friends and family members. |
| The signs you choose to use should be more widely recognised an standardised with the aim of being clear to achieve understanding from different BSL users. | The signs will include more local and regional variations, understood by the group you are conversing with but not necessarily a wider audience. |
| Non-manual features tend to be less pronounced and more neutral to reflect a more professional demeanour. | Non-manual features are more vibrant and dynamic to convey emotions and attitudes. |
| Sentences tend to have a more structured order. | Sentences are more flexible and visually driven. |
| Proper nouns such as names of people will be fingerspelled in full. | Proper nouns will be abbreviated, with nicknames or sign names will be used. |
Exercise: Watch some videos from Deaf people and BSL users online. There’s many social media personalities who have focused content around a specific subject who integrate BSL into their content. We’d recommend watching some of their videos and following some that are of interest to you. Here’s a few we’d recommend:
1. Deaf ADHD Journal @my_deafadhdjournal
2. The Deaf Chef @deafchefofficial
3. Being Her @being__her
4. British Deaf Association @britishdeafassociation
5. Jazzy @jazzywhipps
Key points to remember
1. Be aware of the differences of formal and informal registers, but also remember there’s a middle-ground you’ll use for everyday conversations.
2. Signers will adapt their signs and structure based on their audience and the context.
3. Fingerspell proper nouns in full in formal settings. You can use abbreviations and sign names in informal settings.
Useful downloads and links
A PDF version of this page will be available to download soon.