British Sign Language (born in Derby!)
Many people don’t know that Derby has a deep history with the Deaf community. Local churches and schools opened their doors to the Deaf as early as the 19th century. This led to Derby becoming a centre for British Sign Language, a visual way of speaking that changed many lives.
Thanks to these early efforts, Derby became known as one of the first places in Britain to truly welcome Deaf people, not as outsiders, but as full members of the city. With schools like the Royal School for the Deaf, Derby created a place where Deaf pupils could learn, mix, and grow just like anyone else.
Today, Derby keeps this link strong. The city has regular social clubs, meet-ups, and a long tradition of teaching sign language. Interpreters are often found at city events.
Local shops and public spaces strive to be more accessible. This approach shows how Derby’s heart opens up for every neighbour, no matter their voice or background.
More About British Sign Language
This is visual language used with two hands (over 2500 signs) used by over 150,000 people in the UK. It has its own grammar, non-manual facial expressions and even grammar (a sign for a word in Newcastle is different from one in London).
It relies heavily on facial expressions (so if you raise your eyebrows, that indicates a question for the same phrase). And babies can start to learn it from six months.
You don’t need to always spell out words (one signal can be an entire phrase).
