Different Sign Language Systems Used in Schools

Signed English (SE)

This is a system that is often used in schools to teach deaf children the grammatical aspects of English, such as the use of word endings and plurals, etc. For example, for the word ‘walk’ the sign of ‘walk’ would be used and then the ending of that particular word would be spelled out. The past times would also be displayed along with other characteristics. This is not a language in itself, it is just a tool for teaching English.

Sign Supported English (SSE)

Sign Supported English is similar to signed English, although it does not spell with fingers or fully represent word endings, ‘ing’, ‘ed’, etc. BSL signs are used but follow the format and structure of English. For example, if the phrase “I went shopping today and I was busy” was signed in SSE, the signs would follow the same structure as the sentence. However, if this were signed in BSL, then the order of the signs would be slightly different and it would probably follow this format: “Me shopping today … busy”. This would be accompanied by the appropriate facial expressions to show that he was busy.

The balance of the BSL signs to English varies greatly depending on the signer’s knowledge of the two languages. A single sign often differs into multiple English words by clearly pronouncing the word. To understand SSE you need good lip reading (speech reading) skills, as well as a thorough understanding of English grammar.

Paget Gorman Signaling System
The Paget Gorman sign system was created in Britain by Sir Richard Paget in the 1930s and developed by Lady Grace Paget and Dr. Pierre Gorman for use with children with speech or communication difficulties, such as deaf children. It is a system of grammatical signs that reflects the normal patterns of English. The system uses 37 basic signs and 21 standard hand postures, which can be combined to represent a wide vocabulary of English words, including word endings and verb tenses. The signs do not correspond to the natural signs of the deaf community. The system was widespread in UK schools for the deaf from the 1960s to the 1980s, but since the emergence of British Sign Language and BSL-based Sign English in deaf education, its use has now become more widespread. it is largely restricted to the field of speech and language disorders. .

Makaton

This is a communication system that uses a vocabulary of “keyword” signs and hand gestures to support speech, as well as graphic symbols to support the written word. It is used by and with people who have communication, language or learning difficulties. This includes people with joint problems (for example, people with cerebral palsy), people with cognitive impairments that may be associated with conditions such as autism or Down syndrome, and their families, colleagues, and caregivers. It can be used to aid speech and language development in children, or by adults as a functional means of communication for everyday use.

Communication through Makaton involves speaking (when possible) and signing keywords at the same time. The sign vocabulary is taken from the local sign language for the deaf (with some additional “natural gestures”), starting with a “basic” list of important words. However, grammar generally follows spoken language rather than sign language. Makaton makes limited use of the spatial grammatical characteristics of directionality and sign placement. As Makaton is used in more than 40 countries around the world, Makaton’s keyword signature varies from country to country.

Makaton was developed in the early 1970s in the UK to communicate with residents of a large hospital who were deaf and intellectually disabled. The name is a combination of the names of the three people who came up with it: Margaret Walker, Kathy Johnston, and Tony Cornforth.

Makaton is run by MVDP (Makaton Vocabulary Development Project) which controls Makaton’s copyright and relies on associated revenue for funding. This restricts the use of Makaton pictograms to licensed educational programs and home use.

Other simpler forms of manual communication have also been developed. They are not natural languages ​​or even a code that can fully represent one. They communicate with a very limited set of cues on an even smaller set of subjects and have been developed for situations where speech is impractical or not allowed, or secrecy is desired.