intro to british sign language

Congratulations.
I did an evening class years ago but I haven't really used it much since then so can't remember much more than the alphabet.

Classic stuff & way hey for you! Will you carry on studying BSL?

Like EJ, am down to fingerspelling these days but do remember lots of the swearing - it's genuinely hard to forget gestures like that... ;)

thanks ej.

hildegard - the next stage (confusingly called level 1) starts in feb, I'm thinking of doing it because I'm only at the very basic stages right now.

and swearing? hehe. the sign for "bullshit" is fucking hilarious...

Yes, that's one to which I still have frequent recourse. Some of the others, well, they do leave one rather wondering about the homelife of their originators... ;)

Congratulations! I find the history of sign languages and deaf culture really interesting.

hildegard - hahahahahaha! :)

factotum - it really is. deaf comedy is a particular treat if you can understand it. the simple wit of turning a butterfly into a whale then back again is lost on most hearing people...

Nice one billion -congratulations.
is it true some of the signs for different countries are quite amusing and stereotypical? i.e Scotland or being Scottish is a 'bagpipe' type sign? :)

absolutely true - scotland is signed with a bagpipe, india signed with a point to the forefead where a bindi would be, china by touching sides of the eyes to indicate the shape of chinese eyes. these may seem a bit quaint or even rude at first but in the signing world they make perfect sense - simple, easily recognisable shapes with obvious meanings.

australia as I recall is a couple of fingers "jumping" on the other hand, to represent a kangaroo.

hehe. easier than signing throwing a shrimp on the barbie...

What is the sign for Canadian?

wtg Billion - butterfly-whale-butterfly
look forward to more

cheers d.

factotum - I don't know, sorry! maple leaf? moose? hmph. v frustrating that I don't know.

Here's a guide:

http://www.britishsignlanguage.com/words/groups.php?id=20

Canada, unfortunately, is not in the list. The sign for Finland is particularly cryptic, though...

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Good on ya, Billion. I learnt stage one NZ Sign Language years but lost it over the years. My wife I could cheat at Pictionary with finger spelling.

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Well, I don't like to be left out ... Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

we're not considered to be part of "America", I hope!

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Hi. Good site.

Very nice site!

Great,