Survey Signing Surprise
Media Guardian: Confusion over TV signing
Ofcom: Television Access Services Review
If there's one topic that's certain to raise an argument on some message boards, it's someone wandering in and ranting about the "little man stood there waving their hands about in the corner of the screen" - or interpreting a programme into British Sign Language as people who foam at the mouth less, tend to call it.
Such has been the reason why signed programmes tend to be buried at the back of the schedule, and why people like the BBC's R&D department have spent much time trying to work out a way of automating the signer, so that some software can be loaded into a set top box, allowing the signer to become optional.
However a recent study for Ofcom raises an interesting question - 1.1m people use signed programmes, but the vast majority don't actually know British Sign Language.
Ofcom's comment on this is to raise a debate about whether the quotas of signed programmes should continue or not - its research also showed that two thirds of those with hearing impairment prefer subtitles.
But a further question isn't being asked - why do those with no knowledge of BSL, used signed programmes? Is it because the programmes are repeats of shows people may have missed? Is it because people with limited knowledge of BSL are trying to learn more? Or is it so they have something to foam at the mouth about on message boards?
