Answers and further information: 1. "What are you doing tomorrow?" becomes "Tomorrow do what?". Notice how some BSL sentences include the subject (words like you/yours) and others do not. BSL has features such as eye gaze and head movements which give extra information. Imagine a real life conversation where you would be looking directly at the person you are asking, it isn't always essential you sign words like "you". You could sign this sentence as "tomorrow you do what?" and it would be acceptable. Using this same principle, we have shown the example of "name you what?" but this could also be signed "name what?". More advanced signers tend to lean on the non-manual features more heavily to communicate extra information beyond the movement of the hands. 2. "What is your favourite food?" becomes "Food, your favourite what?" See the above information about how signing "your" isn't always required, so you could sign "food favourite what?" "Favourite food what?" is also a correct answer. Is the topic or theme of your sentence "favourite food" or "food"? That can depend on the conversation you're having. The key takeaways from this activity should be as follows: 1. Put timeframes at the start of your BSL sentences. 2. The topic (or theme) is what you are talking about. 3. Put questioning words at the end of your BSL sentences. Did you find this video useful? Why not consider becoming a channel member. Commanding Hands is currently a part-time project. Our aim is for Commanding Hands to become a full-time project publishing as many free learning resources as possible. The join button is next to the subscribe button, just underneath the video. Thanks
Hi, just started learning a bit and enjoying the videos. It looks from this video that when you do include "you" in a sentence, sometimes it's a point and sometimes more like just indicating towards the person with the same hand shape as you're about to use, eg in your favourite food the your is more fist like than in your name. Have I understood that correctly?
These are great. My new work colleague is deaf and I was given the task of training him. Along with these vids and his patience we're both learning new stuff. It's been 6 weeks since he started.
Dan, I can't tell you how much I enjoy your videos - such a great pace, so clear and well explained - I have learned so much from watching you. Thank you so much for such great tutorials. I've signed up to an introduction course starting in Jan 2024 and I am learning so much from you I think I'll be well prepared. (And you have lovely eyes)
This is really helpful! I'm working my way through my level one and two BSL and these videos are a really good way to keep learning. Thank you so much!
hi i’m learning bsl and i’m a beginner. i just wanted to ask is the sign for “date” not the same for the sign for “number”. i would be embarressed if people thought i was asking for their number😂
Well spotted! The hand movements are the same for both "date" and "number", the distinguishing feature is the lip pattern. Mouth either date or number according to which you're asking about. I hope this helps :) Thanks for watching.
There's a couple of different signs in BSL that have the same hand movements but different lip patterns (and context in a sentence). My favourites are 'why' and 'because'.
You are telling your 'audience' the subject matter immediately so there is not a long convoluted sentence as can be the case with the spoken word. Often really experienced signers jump in to 'short hand'
