This is the first detailed explanation of the way British Sign Language works and is the product of many years' experience of research and teaching sign linguistics to deaf and hearing people. It assumes no previous knowledge of linguistics or sign language, and is not structured around traditional headings such as phonology, morphology and syntax. Instead it is set out in such a way as to help learners and their teachers understand the linguistic principles behind the language. There are sections on BSL grammar and also on the use of BSL, including
social acceptability in signing, variation, and poetry and humour in BSL. Technical terms and linguistic jargon are kept to a minimum, and the text contains many examples from English, BSL, and other spoken and sign languages. The book is amply illustrated and contains exercises, as well as a reading list for further study. An accompanying 90-minute video is available from CACDP, Durham University Science Park, Block 4, Mountjoy Research Centre, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3UZ. Tel: 0191 383 1155, or e-mail: durham@cacdp.demon.co.uk
By:
Rachel Sutton-Spence (University of Bristol), Bencie Woll (City University London) Imprint: Cambridge University Press Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 22mm
Weight: 640g ISBN:9780521631426 ISBN 10: 0521631424 Pages: 324 Publication Date:17 May 1999 Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format:Hardback Publisher's Status: Active
Conventions used in the text; 1. Linguistics and sign linguistics; 2. BSL in its social context; 3. Constructing sign sentences; 4. Questions and negation; 5. Mouth patterns and non-manual features in BSL; 6. Morphology and morphemes in BSL; 7. Aspect, manner and mood; 8. Space types and verb types in BSL; 9. The structure of gestures and signs; 10. Visual motivation and metaphor; 11. The established and productive lexicons; 12. Borrowing and naming signs; 13. Socially unacceptable signs; 14. Extended use of language in BSL; Table of illustrations; Index; Index of signs; Bibliography.
Winner of BAAL (British Association for Applied Linguistics) Book Prize 2000
Winner of BAAL (British Association for Applied Linguistics) Book Prize 2000.