BSL SignBank
BSL SignBank is a free online British Sign Language (BSL) dictionary and lexical database associated with the UCL DCAL Research Centre.
What BSL SignBank is
BSL SignBank is a free online British Sign Language (BSL) dictionary and lexical database associated with the UCL DCAL Research Centre. Look up signs using an English keyword or browse alphabetically, then view video clips showing the signs. Browsing by handshape or location is also available, and researchers can register to request advanced search features. The dictionary draws on the BSL Corpus and Brien’s 1992 Dictionary of British Sign Language/English; the cited corpus includes signing from 249 deaf people across eight UK locations. Regional information covers signs for colours, numbers, countries and UK place names. Additional resources include a two-handed BSL manual alphabet with playback for typed letters at slow, medium or fast speed, plus a quiz on selected signs and where they are used. The web version can be opened and bookmarked in a phone browser. Entries present signs neutrally, without mouthing or a particular facial expression, and there is no BSL-to-English search function. SignBank is not designed to teach BSL on its own; the site recommends interaction with BSL users and/or a course.
Good
- Free resource for BSL sign information
- Search by English keyword or browse alphabetically
- Video clips show how signs look
- Fingerspelling playback offers three speeds
- Phone browser version can be bookmarked
Watch out
- Not designed as a stand-alone learning tool
- No BSL-to-English search function
- Corpus coverage is limited to eight UK locations
- Entries omit mouthing and particular facial expressions
Who it suits
It suits people looking up BSL signs and researchers exploring the dictionary’s entries. Learners can use its videos, fingerspelling resource and quiz alongside interaction with BSL users or a course.
Verdict
BSL SignBank offers several ways to look up signs, with video, regional information and supplementary practice resources. Its neutral entries and geographic coverage limits matter, and it is intended to complement rather than replace learning with BSL users or a course.
Plans and prices
From BSL SignBank's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| BSL SignBank | Free | Free resource; information on BSL signs, mostly in the form of a dictionary |
The facts
Each one read from BSL SignBank's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Additional vocabulary
- The site says its entries come from the BSL Corpus or Brien’s 1992 Dictionary of British Sign Language/English.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Corpus basis
- The dictionary is based on signs used by deaf people in the BSL Corpus, which contains signing from 249 deaf people across eight UK sites.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Corpus coverage
- The BSL Corpus cited by the site contains signing from 249 deaf people across eight UK locations.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Coverage limitation
- The FAQ says the corpus covers eight UK sites and that signs from other parts of the UK may not be included.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Dictionary limitation
- The FAQ says signs are shown neutrally without mouthing or a particular facial expression, and that there is no BSL-to-English search function yet.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Fingerspelling
- The fingerspelling resource shows the two-handed BSL manual alphabet and can play typed letters at slow, medium or fast speed.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Learning limitation
- The site says SignBank is not designed to be a stand-alone language-learning tool and recommends interaction with BSL users and/or a course.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Learning resources
- The home page links to BSL learning resources, videos of Deaf people using BSL and a quiz on signs for colours, numbers, countries and UK place names.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Mobile access
- The site says its mobile view adjusts to a phone browser and that users can bookmark the site; it says an app may be considered if demand is sufficient.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Mouth patterns and facial expressions
- The FAQ says the dictionary presents signs neutrally without mouthing or particular facial expressions.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- BSL SignBank is an online British Sign Language dictionary and lexical database for researchers.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Quiz
- The quiz tests users on BSL signs for colours, countries and UK place names, including where signs are used in the UK.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Regional information
- The site offers regional information about signs for colours, numbers, countries and UK place names.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Regional signs
- The site offers regional information about signs for colours, numbers, countries and UK place names.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Search
- Users can search for signs with an English keyword or browse alphabetically.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Sign feature search
- Users can browse signs by handshape and/or location.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Support
- The site provides a Help/FAQ link and lists [email protected] as its contact email.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Video entries
- UCL describes the dictionary as using video clips to show what each sign looks like.checked 9 Oct 2001
Money
- Free access
- The learning page describes SignBank as a free resource with information on BSL signs, mostly in dictionary form.checked 9 Oct 2001
The company
- Maker
- The site identifies BSL SignBank with the UCL DCAL Research Centre.checked 9 Oct 2001
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