Maintain fluency, grammatical accuracy and coherence in sustained contributions containing complex language

Maintain fluency, grammatical accuracy and coherence in sustained contributions containing complex language

Maintaining Fluency

  • Understand the critical importance of continuous flow in BSL. Try to avoid unnecessary pauses or hesitations to maintain smooth, unbroken communication.
  • Develop a good rhythm in your signing. Just like spoken languages, BSL has a rhythm that needs to be followed for clear and fluent communication.
  • Practice using non-verbal clues, such as facial expressions and body language, to ensure your signs are clearly understood and well-received.

Grammatical Accuracy

  • Prioritise learning and using the correct BSL syntax. Remember that BSL has its own unique structure which may differ significantly from spoken English.
  • Ensure correct formation and placement of signs. Simply knowing the signs is not enough, they need to be formed accurately and positioned correctly in relation to your body to convey the correct meaning.
  • Use the appropriate handshapes, orientations and movements while signing, since changing any of these components can significantly alter the meaning of a sign.
  • Familiarise yourself with the concept of BSL verb tenses. The placement of signs in the signing space and the direction of movements can indicate whether an action is happening now, happened in the past, or will happen in the future.

Coherence in Contributions

  • Use references in space consistently to maintain logical links within your dialogue. Referents established in the signing space should be used consistently throughout the conversation to maintain coherence.
  • Implement appropriate use of classifiers. Classifiers in BSL help you to categorise, describe, and represent the movement, location, and appearance of objects or people.
  • Ensure adequate use of turn-taking signals so your dialogues are not one-sided and the conversation is engaging for both parties.
  • Engage the concept of narrative structuring in your sign language use, as this is key to linking all elements of your conversation together and creating a coherent dialogue.
  • Practice and learn how to use transition markers in BSL. They will help you to smoothly move from one topic to another within your conversation, thereby improving coherence.

These points provide a broader insight into maintaining fluency, grammatical accuracy, and coherence while using complex language in BSL. Regular practising and using these skills in real-world interactions can greatly increase your confidence and proficiency in BSL.