Dialects in sign languages are similar to those in spoken languages. Although they can appear confusing, dialects rarely cause a communication barrier between d/Deaf and hard of hearing individuals from different regions. These differences are rooted in the notion of identity; it can be clear where someone is from based on the way they sign a certain word or phrase.
As BSL emerged in Britain, regional variations in some signs soon started to appear. The most obvious reason for this is a geographical separation between d/Deaf communities. Individuals from different places in the UK had little to no contact with d/Deaf communities from other parts of the country. Speaking on the telephone or writing letters were not an option for d/Deaf people either. Therefore, it was very difficult to establish a universal sign for every word, and different regions were unlikely to be aware of these variations. Deaf schools would develop their own signs for words they had not come across before that were only familiar amongst the pupils. We can clearly see this in spoken English, too. Many different areas of the UK have different phrases that mean the same thing, or regional slang that someone from another town or city would be unfamiliar with. A larger scale example of dialects forming due to geographical barriers is the difference between British English and American English, which most of us will be familiar with.
Variations in place names in BSL emerged from the various regional identities. Deaf individuals from Liverpool or Newcastle, for example, tend to use a different sign when speaking of their hometown to the ones people outside of their area use.
However, a decline in the regional dialects of BSL are beginning to be seen. A large factor in this is the increased interconnectivity between people all around the world. Many d/Deaf and hard of hearing children attend mainstream schools, rather than specialised schools, and so the signs they learn are more likely to be the signs that are used more widely across the country. Additionally, individuals who become d/Deaf or hard of hearing in later life will tend to learn the most commonly used signs in BSL, rather than the local variations. This shift may be upsetting to some people who communicate through BSL, as dialects give a strong sense of belonging and identity to many.
For a more detailed look into the various dialects of BSL, visit https://bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk/regional/. This small project asked BSL speakers from various regions, such as Manchester, Glasgow, and Belfast, to present the signs they use for certain words.
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