Sign Language Week, organised by the British Deaf Association (BDA) and running from the 17th to the 25th of March this year, commemorates the declaration of British Sign Language (BSL) being recognised as a language by the UK Government in March 2003. Yes, you’re reading that right. BSL has only been legally recognised for just over 20 years. On top of that, it was merely 3 years ago, with the BSL Act 2022, that British Sign Language was legally recognised as an official language of England, Scotland and Wales. Bear in mind that according to the Royal National Institution for Deaf People (RNID), being deaf, hard of hearing, or having tinnitus affects over 18 million adults in the UK alone – 1 in every 3 adults.
The struggle for the recognition, understanding, and utilisation of sign language has been an uphill battle for many years and will continue for many years to come. There are ongoing issues with accessibility in public services and education, which extends to the University of Manchester, including but not limited to: lack of funding and of interpreters for key events and information; social stigmatisation; lack of awareness and knowledge about sign language, and apathy towards attempts at bridging the gap between the tradition of oralism and the Deaf community.
It’s important to realise that BSL goes beyond language, encompassing a place that is, in the words of the British Deaf Association, “rich with history, humour, and activism”. Sign Language isn’t a linguistic copy of the English language; it has a separate syntax, etymology, and regional dialects. It has a distinct personality and culture – one that has been historically under and misrepresented by its hearing oppressors.
And yes, oppressors may seem like an extreme word, but it’s not a misnomer.
Now, I want to clarify that as a hearing person I am unable to present the deaf experience in a fully authentic or accurate manner, but that does not mean that I cannot or should not advocate for the amelioration of the condition of the Deaf community in all social and political spheres – in fact, it’s the exact opposite.
To rephrase an idea from Audre Lorde: it shouldn’t be the job of the oppressed to educate the oppressor on their misdeeds. It is precisely the fact that I am in a recognised position of privilege that means that I should speak out and advocate.
Just as in any other social issue, education and awareness make a big difference, but they are also just the first step.
I talked to Vernon Eminowicz, a deaf student at the University of Manchester and lesson leader at its BSL Society, to recount his experience with deaf perception and communication. This is what he had to say about it.
“The importance of Deaf awareness is essential for removing the communication barrier between deaf and hearing individuals”.
“One of the major problems when hearing people attempt to communicate with Deaf people is the incorrect assumptions they make about Deaf people’s ability to communicate. I have seen a few times where they assumed that all Deaf people can lipread proficiently, have impaired speech, or have profound hearing loss. (…) There is a diverse range of deafness, with individuals possessing varying levels of communication abilities”.
On the topic of deaf education, Vernon talked of his own experience at a Deaf school and the importance of promoting deaf education.
“As a proud Deaf person myself, I went to a Deaf school which provided an excellent education tailored to suit Deaf people’s needs, (…) [where] tables were arranged into a single semi-circular shape, allowing each Deaf student to receive full attention and support from the teachers. The teachers themselves are specially trained to modify the curriculum and use assistive technologies to make it more accessible. Without all this, I don’t think I would have progressed this far in my education”.
“On the downside, the number of deaf schools in the UK is decreasing and for those that are still open, many [students] fail to get in due to the financial barriers set by local councils. This makes the need for deaf education even more prominent”.
Lack of funding is one of the biggest hurdles for the Deaf community, primarily because there simply isn’t sufficient awareness that would enable increased engagement with sign language and deafness.
Signature, the “leading awarding body for deaf communication and language communication for the UK” describes a goal of the Sign Language Week campaign to be “to encourage people of all ages across the UK to take up the challenge of learning BSL(…)”, as well as learning more about “the language and culture of the Deaf, Deafblind, and hard of hearing British people”.
But how would I go about learning anything about sign language or its surrounding culture?
Well besides the countless hours of content available online, both for learning basics and listening to shared experiences, there’s a number of available learning opportunities and BSL cultural centres here in Manchester.
For one, there’s the BSL Society at the University of Manchester, with weekly sessions to learn or practice BSL no matter your skill level. It should be made clear that these sessions are not accredited lessons that result in a certificate, but instead offer an opportunity to explore sign language in a relaxed and open manner.
Located in the University of Manchester’s Crawford House, the MDC (Manchester Deaf Centre) is also an excellent opportunity to get involved with the Deaf Community. They offer multiple BSL courses for beginner and advanced signers – including deaf awareness training, as well as frequently hosting or organising events for the Deaf or hard of hearing.
In addition to their usual services, the MDC also contains the Deaf Museum and Archive, which is run by the British Deaf History Society. Within, you can find a fine collection of paintings, books, and other objects from throughout Deaf history. As the entire Deaf Centre is a charity, there is an option to donate as opposed to an entry fee.
If the MDC sounds interesting, their website has more information on current efforts and events.
Deafness isn’t, as it is often seen or understood, some form of debilitating condition that requires pity. It is, in fact, the exact opposite. Every Deaf person that I have either conversed with or seen, has immense pride in their language and culture – despite the recurring infantilisation of the deaf ability by the hearing communities.
Above all else, it needs understanding, acknowledgement, and awareness. Since its recognition as a language in 2003, significant work has been done both nationally and within the University of Manchester to promote and further deaf inclusion and understanding.
At the University of Manchester, the department for Social Research with Deaf People (SORD) has carried out significant studies on the wellbeing and promotion of d/Deaf individuals and communities, with some of their key aims being “to explore, value and recognise Deaf life experiences in their own right”, and “to create an academic environment that promotes the mutual learning and development of d/Deaf and hearing people (…)”.
On a national level, plans for an official GCSE in BSL were announced by the Department of Education in December of 2023, which are supposed to come into effect this coming September 2025. This was after a 12-week consultation with various deaf and hearing organisations, including the British Deaf Association, Signature, and the National Deaf Children’s Society.
The proposed content for the GCSE, including the vocabulary lists are available online, found on the official government page.
However, there have already been difficulties with its implementation, with Wales dropping the GCSE plan shortly after it was announced, and various delays hindering its starting.
There are active efforts in the inclusion and furthering of Deaf communities, but it needs active awareness and support.
It’s not difficult to learn some BSL basics and it’s not only a language that will come in useful with speaking with other signers, but a unique and expressive way to communicate. I’ve only been learning on-and-off for a year, and I’ve already found comfort in being able to express my feelings without talking, or signing when the surroundings get too loud.
Why not give it a try?
