What verb do you use for knowing BSL?

[CanICelebrate]

Do you say ‘he speaks BSL’ or ‘he uses BSL’ for someone who has BSL as a first language or someone who is fluent in BSL?

I’ve tried google but it’s ambiguous!

It is a sentence I want to write in an email and don’t want to get it wrong and accidentally offend.

Probably "uses", and this BDA link seems to agree bda.org.uk/help-resources/#universal

I think I would say “his first language is BSL”

I would say x's first language is BSL. Or x uses BSL would be ok too.

'Fluent' works.

Sorry I should have been more specific. I need to ask whether someone speaks/uses BSL

Uses is the most descriptive and least clunky.

Uses BSL.

Thanks for the replies and sorry for my shit op 🤦🏼‍♀️

Thanks.
So I could say ‘is there anyone in your organisation that uses BSL?’

For example

@CanICelebrate

Thanks. So I could say ‘is there anyone in your organisation that uses BSL?’

What are you actually trying to achieve in terms of communication?

A question like that could throw up a random who did bsl level one five years ago, posts videos of themselves signing songs badly but thinks they’re brilliant because non bsl users and other level ones tell them they’re amazing at signing.

I’ve worded that really badly.

What I’m trying to ask is why are you asking this? Are you trying to find out if this organisation has deaf bsl using staff or are you interested in if they have people proficient in bsl? I’m heating so I don’t “use”bsl but I can sign pretty fluently.

How about “… uses BSL as their main form of communication?” then?

Who “knows” BSL?

@CanICelebrate

Thanks. So I could say ‘is there anyone in your organisation that uses BSL?’

No, I don't think it works like that. It reads as if you are asking about the disability rather than enquiring if people are educated in BSL.

What do you need to know, could you put 'Is there anyone in your organisation who is proficient in BS' but you might want to know is there are people that know the basics.

It reads as if you are asking about the disability rather than enquiring if people are educated in BSL.

Using bsl is a disability? Watch how you word that.

I'm trying to say what Purple is saying. I blame Sunday apathy for failure to communicate.

We have a lady (who has perfect hearing) who is awesome at BSL and translates staff meetings. Do you want someone like her, or the people who she is translating for? I think you need to be clear, because both parties are using BSL but in very different ways!

Do you need to cater for this person, or do you need to use their skills?

If the former "is there anyone in your company who uses BSL as their main form of communication?"
If the latter "is there anyone in your company who is fluent in BSL?"

@PurpleDaisies

It reads as if you are asking about the disability rather than enquiring if people are educated in BSL.

Using bsl is a disability? Watch how you word that.

My sibling is deaf, they do see it as a disability however I wasn't meaning it like that. Just trying to explain how the previous sentence was written. If that question was asked in my work 'is there anyone in your organisation that uses BSL' I wouldn't include myself in that. However if I was asked 'is anyone proficient/fluent ' then I would

What LadyCat says again depends on what you want to know.

It sounds like a registered interpreter would be more appropriate than a staff member who happened to work in the organisation.

More details needed…

@Iwanttobeapaperbackwriter I’m also afflicted with the Sunday night apathy!

Saraclara has managed to articulate what I meant, agree with her post. Ignore mine.

I might be being dense, but I am still not sure what you are wanting to ask.

Do not use "speaks" - nobody speaks BSL.

If you are looking for fluency, I'd ask "Do you have a fluent BSL user in your organisation?" or for first language "Do you have anyone in your organisation whose first language is BSL?"

I agree, it depends on context/the reason you're asking. I'm rather intrigued as to why you might be asking such a specific question in the first place...

Absolutely 'uses'. You can't speak a signed language.

Also 'fluent in' 'first language is...' 'native languages is' or simple 'he/she/they sign' all work too