Q&A for How to Sign Simple Phrases in British Sign Language

Sign "understand" by using your dominant hand. Use the sign for the letter "C" and turn it so it is now a "U" shape. Put this shape at the opposite side of your forehead and slide it straight across to the other side of your forehead. While doing this, use a puzzled face, changing your facial expression and eyebrow shape to show confusion.

Slide your dominant hand up your non-dominant arm (palms facing downwards) and then flick your dominant hand upward and place it on top of your wrist.

Sign 'I' by placing your pointer finger toward you, touching the middle of your chest. Sign 'like' by tapping the palm of your hand over your heart twice. To sign 'fish', put your thumb on your chin and wriggle your other 4 fingers up and down. Lastly, sign 'chips' by having both your pointer finger and thumb wide apart in the middle of your chest and bring apart while gradually bringing your thumb and pointer fingers together.

Point to yourself, cross your hands flat on your chest (preferably to the left, where your heart is), then point to the person you are talking to.

To sign names, fingerspell each letter individually. For J, start with the index finger of your dominant hand on the middle finger of your other hand and move it down to your palm, then thumb, essentially spelling the letter J on your hand. For E, put the index finger of your dominant hand onto the index finger of your non-dominant hand. The sign for S is linking both your pinky fingers, do this twice. I is touching the tip of your middle finger of your non-dominant hand with the index finger on your dominant hand. For C, curl your index finger and thumb to form the letter C. The sign for A is touching the tip of thumb with your index finger.

Point to yourself for "I". Then cross your hands flat on your chest, preferably to the left where your heart is for "love". For "my", put your first on your chest. The sign for "dog" is extending your middle and index fingers and point down with them, keeping the fingers together.

The sign for "good" is simply a thumbs up (one hand or two). For "morning" bend your elbows so that are pointing to the side and the palms of your hands are facing your chest. Then turn your forearms ninety degrees so your elbows are facing downwards and your palms are facing your shoulders. The sign for "morning" is the same as the sign for "day". The other, more common sign for morning, is tapping your opposite shoulder as your hand and then the same shoulder as your hand.

Point to yourself for "I". Cross your hands flat on your chest for "love". Put a fist on your chest for "my". The sign for "mum" is the "M" sign twice, which is tapping your three middle fingers (index, middle and ring) on the palm of your opposite hand. It can help to mouth along with what you are saying, especially because the sign for "mum" is the same as the sign for "Monday".

You can't learn Sign Language in just a few days. It is as complex as learning any other language and unless you can learn languages in a few days, you won't be able to. However, you can try and learn as much as you can and it is possible to learn basic signs in a few days. Watch these channels for learning British Sign Language: Charlie Raine, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, Commanding hands and Jazzy. It can also be helpful to learn songs in British Sign Language.

The sign for "happy" is described in the instructions above: stroke your palms twice. The most common sign for "birthday" is to pretend to knock on your head: make your hand into a fist, hold it to the side of your head and move it back and forward twice. To sign "mum", do the sign for "M" twice (this is tapping your three middle fingers on your palm"). Mouth along with the words as you talk.

You can start by asking them if they know and use sign language as their main method of communication. If they say yes, you can say that you are learning, or know a bit of sign. Alternatively, if they do not use sign, ask them what their preferred method of communication is, such as using pen and paper, and communicate that way.

Point to yourself for "I". To sign "have", perform a grabbing motion with your hand. Hold your palm in front of your face and pull it down, making your hand into a first. To sign "autism", extend your middle and index fingers on each hand. With your palms and fingertips facing the ground, move your hands up and down (move one up while moving the other one down).

In BSL, this would be signed as "Age me...". "Age" is holding a hand in front of your face, palm facing your nose, and wiggling your fingers. Point to yourself for "me". To sign the specific age, see Sign Numbers in British Sign Language .