Understand and use a varied range of grammatical structures

Understand and use a varied range of grammatical structures

Comprehending Grammar Variations

• Regularity in switch: Understand the concept of role-shift, which is used in BSL to indicate who is speaking in a conversation, snapping your fingers or pointing to different physical locations.
• Usage of Non-manual features: Comprehend the use of facial expressions, head movements, and fluid body language as an integral part of BSL grammar for conveying meaning and context.

Identifying Sentence Structures

• BSL Sentence Patterns: Get familiar with common sentence patterns in BSL, such as subject-verb-object (order can vary based on the context) for fluent sign construction.
• Time indicators: Realise the importance of placing time indicators at the start of the sentence for temporal context.

Application of Tenses

• Tense usage: Understand how to establish past, present, or future tense within a conversation by using specific hand signs or time indicators at the beginning of a sentence.
• Temporal Linkage: Comprehend the use of time signs for ‘linking’ relevant content within a conversation chain, adding clarity to narration.

Managing Communication

• Question formulation: Learn to formulate different types of questions, including yes/no questions and information-seeking questions.
• Affirmations and Negations: Understand the appropriate process of affirming and negating statements in BSL, paying close attention to the use of facial expressions and head shakes in negation.

Valuing Effective Sign Usage

• Sign Adaptability: Foster the habit of using flexible signing to adapt your delivery based on the recipient’s comprehension.
• Mindful Expression: Cultivate the use of full and meaningful expressions not just for clarity but for an enjoyable engaging experience in BSL.