How does Makaton relate to British sign language (BSL)?
Makaton is designed to help hearing people with learning and communication difficulties, it is an aid to communication not a language as such. BSL is a language with its own grammar and is used fluently by deaf people. In the UK, Makaton signing is based on BSL, it takes the signs from BSL. As with spoken languages, where there are regional variations of dialect and accent, there are also variations in the signs that are used throughout the UK. The signs from BSL matched to Makaton have been standardised to those used in the South East/ London region. This standardisation is to avoid confusion for Makaton users if they move around the UK. Makaton also uses speech alongside signing.
