Use own knowledge of the context to work out the meaning of unfamiliar signs in familiar and unfamiliar situations

Utilising Contextual Knowledge

Cultivate an understanding of the Bimodal Bilingualism concept where a speaker uses two languages, one spoken and the other signed. Remember it’s key in unlocking the meaning of unfamiliar signs.
Practice extracting meaning from visual cues. This includes making use of the signers’ facial expressions, body language, and the context of the conversation to decipher the meaning of unfamiliar signs.
Learn to identify contextual clues in conversations. Signs employed around unfamiliar ones often provide sufficient information to understand the general meaning of the conversation.

Dealing with Unfamiliar Signs in Familiar Situations

Apply your existing knowledge in familiar areas or topics. Your existing knowledge about a subject can guide you to make educated guesses about the meanings of new signs.
Use associative thinking. It involves making connections between the new signs you encounter and the signs you already know, which are similar in handshape, movement, or location.
Understand the principle of reiteration. When an unfamiliar sign appears more than once, it provides several chances to work out its meaning based on repeated context.

Handling Unfamiliar Signs in Unfamiliar Situations

Rely on your general knowledge. Even if you’re unfamiliar with a specific context, your general knowledge can provide possible meanings for new signs.
Be willing to ask for clarification when you don’t understand a sign. A simple, polite request for the speaker to repeat or explain can often make the meaning clear.
Use interpretive guessing when you’re seeing a sign for the first time. It involves making educated guesses about the meanings of new signs based on the broader conversation.

Remember, understanding British Sign Language is not always straightforward decoding. It involves a lot of observation, inference, and conversation. Don’t be afraid to make educated guesses and to ask for clarification to enrich your signing experience.