Do Adults and Adolescents in The Deaf Population Sign Differently? An Analysis of Age-Related Variations in British Sign Language

Abstract

All spoken languages evolve with time. New vocabularies are introduced to describe and account for novel technologies and notions. Similarly, British Sign language (BSL) also progresses and evolves. BSL is the natural language of signs that was developed in Britain over the centuries, and is the mode of conversation for the British Deaf community (Sutton-Spence & Woll, 2004). The evolution of this language has manifested itself through the changing ways that signers from different generations communicate. The difference is sometimes so evident that younger BSL signers sometimes report difficulty in understanding older signers (Schembri et al., 2010). This essay will explore and elucidate the evolution of sign language by looking at the intergenerational variations in signs with regards to the use of fingerspelling and regional variation. Following, this essay will also provide an analysis of why these age-related differences exist by exploring the impact of deaf education, technology advancement, and political correctness.

Keywords: British Sign Language, BSL, Age Variation