do it and brought a sign language dictionary with him.
He pointed out that there are many kinds of sign language. American sign language, for example, is different from British sign language, and both of these are different from Japanese sign language. In most countries, there are two kinds of signing. The first one is simply a code. Words are translated into signs in the same order as spoilt language. In Britain and USA this is called Signed Exact English. Sometimes, people spell the letters of a word with their hands.
Mr Hopkins explained that this is quite slow. A faster way of getting a message across is to use a sign language. This uses the shape, position and movement of the hands to make a grammar which is different from the spoken language. In English, for example, question words such as What or When come at the beginning of a question, but in sign language they come at the end (You go last night where?).
Reading with fingers
Mr Hopkins also described how blind people read with their fingers using Braille. On the paper, there are patterns of raised dots which represent letters of the alphabet, numbers and punctuation marks. Different patterns make different letters, which together make words.
Mr Hopkins explained that Braille is not a language because it uses the same grammar the spoken or written language. Blind people can also write their own letters or shopping lists in Braille by using a stylus (a special pen) oh a small metal or plastic sheet.
Check your understanding
Find these phrases in the section about signing What does the underlined word refer to?
1. This is called signing .
2. and both of these are different from Japanese sign language.
3. The first one is simply a code.
4. This uses the shape, po
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