Sign Language Companion: A Handbook of British Signs

Description

An easy-to-follow guide to sign language, providing over 400 illustrations to demonstrate common signs and grouping signs. Sign Language Companion is formatted in groups of linked ideas to allow the development of real conversations immediately. British Sign Language (BSL) is Britain's fourth most popular language, and for the Deaf community it is the most fluent means of communication and the most direct way for hearing people to interact with the deaf. Sign Language Companion is for all BSL students and covers topics from: Getting to know you. Sharing ideas and interests. Sharing feelings and building relationships. Food and drink. This is an invaluable reference for all learners of BSL, of any age, to which they can return again and again.

Cath Smith (nee Catherine Quinn) attended Rochdale Convent Grammar School and trained in social work with deaf people in Manchester and London in the early '70s. During her 18 years employment in a deaf school she also qualified as a BSL/English Interpreter and began her writing career with a range of accessible and ground-breaking books on BSL (British Sign Language). After founding DeafBooks.co.uk she is now well-known for her creation of the LET'S SIGN Series of BSL educational materials and graphics which are widely used in education and adult BSL courses. See www.DeafBooks.co.uk for details of the full range of LET'S SIGN BSL publications and for all new development work.

For those planning classes, this book is a gift as the lessons plan themselves * Journal of the British Association of Teachers of the Deaf * Should be required reading for all beginners, especially parents, to give them an insight into what educating a deaf child really means -- Margaret Crawford, teacher of the deaf, Garvel Deaf Centre * British Deaf News * A very useful book * British Deaf News * Great to help further understanding of the language of deaf people . . . A must * The Teacher * Absolute brilliant book very easy to pick up, I wanted to learn sign language after learning a bit of makaton, I memorised about 10 signs within 10 minutes -- Amazon Reviewer Having never attempted to learn any form of sign language prior to buying this book, I was suprised how easy it is to learn. This book, although basic, will give you an excellent understanding of British Sign Language and will enable you to get by and form basic sentences and, dare I say it, have conversations by signing. It doesn't pretend to be advanced or an oracle in its field but it really is the best book you can buy if you are starting out learning to sign -- Amazon Reviewer