Flower in British Sign Language (BSL): View the Sign and Learn Its Features

Business Skills

Want to see how “flower” is signed in British Sign Language (BSL)? This page does not host a video because permission to republish or embed the relevant recording has not been documented. For a visual demonstration, go directly to the SignBSL comparison page for “flower” and select the recording attributed to the University of Bristol and Deaf Studies Trust.

Quick answer: watch that complete recording at normal speed before replaying it. Several demonstrations listed on the page are produced near the nose and may visually evoke smelling. That is an observation about their appearance, not evidence of the sign’s history or etymology. Written directions alone cannot reliably convey the sign’s precise handshape, orientation, movement, timing and non-manual features.

SignBSL is a comparison dictionary that brings together recordings from different sources and also accepts community submissions. It is useful for locating and comparing examples, but the collection as a whole should not be treated as a single authoritative dictionary. Check the attribution attached to an individual recording before using it as a learning model.

How to learn the BSL sign for “flower”

Open the “flower” results on SignBSL.
Find the example explicitly attributed to the University of Bristol and Deaf Studies Trust.
Watch the complete sign once without copying it.
Replay it and observe the handshape, location, orientation, movement and visible facial or mouth features together.
Practise the sign smoothly, then compare your recording with the source rather than relying on memory.

This article deliberately does not turn the recording into a definitive set of Lead Academy-created hand movements. BSL is three-dimensional and time-based: phrases such as “make an O shape” or “move your hand near your face” omit details that may affect whether a sign is recognisable. Use the source demonstration itself as the model.

What to observe in the demonstration

BSL is a language with its own grammar and syntax, rather than English represented word for word on the hands. The British Deaf Association’s BSL information and resources provide broader language and learning guidance. Linguistic information and searchable lexical data are also available through UCL’s BSL SignBank, a research-led resource developed from BSL corpus work.

Handshape

Look at which fingers are selected and how they relate to one another. Notice whether the fingers are straight, curved, touching or relaxed. Do not reduce the handshape to a rough resemblance to an English letter unless the source itself identifies fingerspelling.

Location and contact

Observe where the hand is positioned in relation to the face and body. Check whether it touches the signer or remains in the space immediately in front of them. If contact occurs, notice its position and duration. A still photograph cannot reliably show whether contact happens before, during or after a movement.

Palm and finger orientation

Check which way the palm, thumb and fingertips face at the start and finish. Two signs can appear similar while differing in orientation, so copying the fingers without checking the direction of the hand may produce an unclear form.

Movement

Watch the path, direction, size, speed and repetition of the movement. Does the hand travel through space, turn in place or change orientation? Is the action performed once or repeated? View the full sequence rather than trying to reconstruct it from isolated frames.

Non-manual features

In signed languages, relevant information can be expressed through the face, mouth, head, gaze and body as well as the hands. Observe what the recorded signer actually does and avoid adding an exaggerated expression or mouth pattern that is not shown.

A practical five-point viewing method

Use this method when studying any short BSL dictionary recording:

Meaning: confirm that the entry represents the intended sense. “Flower” as a plant may not cover every figurative or specialist use of the English word.
Formation: identify the handshape, location and orientation without attempting the sign yet.
Movement: track direction, path, speed, contact and repetition.
Whole signer: observe facial expression, mouth action, gaze, head position and posture.
Comparison: record your attempt and compare it with the complete source clip, preferably with feedback during structured tuition.

This separates observation from imitation. It helps prevent a common problem: concentrating on the fingers while overlooking the sign’s movement and position. A mirror can reveal broad differences, but a recording is usually more useful because it can be paused and replayed beside the model.

Do you need to say “flower” aloud?

No. Producing the BSL sign does not require you to voice the English word. A signer may use a visible mouth action, but this is not automatically an instruction to speak. Mouth actions can include English-influenced mouthing as well as patterns that do not correspond straightforwardly to a spoken English word.

Follow what is visible in the selected BSL recording. Do not add speech merely because an old text tutorial says to “say the word”. Whether an individual uses their voice is a personal and contextual matter, not a required component of this vocabulary item.

Why might more than one form appear?

Variation is normal in living languages. BSL vocabulary can vary according to region, school, age, family, social network and community. Individual signers may also produce small phonetic differences without changing the intended meaning.

A comparison page can therefore display several recordings. Their presence does not prove that every form is equally widespread, nor does it establish where each form is used. Do not assign a regional label unless a reliable source supplies that information. For conversation within a particular Deaf community, learn the form used by that community.

Likewise, an action that looks iconic does not by itself reveal a sign’s origin. A form produced near the nose may remind a viewer of smelling a flower, but visual resemblance is not sufficient evidence for an etymological claim.

Common mistakes to avoid

Learning from a still image: it cannot show timing, direction, repetition or a change in orientation.
Copying only the fingers: hand location, palm direction and movement are also important.
Guessing from English: BSL does not map onto English word for word, and context can affect how an idea is expressed.
Adding speech automatically: voicing the English word is not required.
Assuming all online clips have equal provenance: inspect the contributor or institutional attribution for each recording.
Inventing regional labels: multiple examples do not establish their geographical distribution.
Using an ASL clip as a BSL model: British and American Sign Languages are distinct languages.

BSL is not American Sign Language

British Sign Language and American Sign Language (ASL) have different vocabularies, grammars and fingerspelling systems. A video labelled only “sign language” may therefore be unsuitable for someone learning BSL. Include “BSL” or “British Sign Language” in searches and verify the source’s language label.

The British Sign Language Act 2022 recognises BSL as a language of England, Wales and Scotland. The Act does not make every online vocabulary demonstration definitive, so source attribution and community usage still matter.

Reliable BSL learning resources

Dictionaries and research resources

Use UCL BSL SignBank for research-led lexical information and corpus-based examples where an entry is available. SignBSL can help compare recordings, but check each clip’s attribution and do not assume that a user-submitted example has undergone institutional review.

Deaf-led tuition

A dictionary gives you a vocabulary reference, not conversational competence. Deaf-led tuition can provide live receptive practice, correction and insight into natural community usage. Before enrolling, check the teacher’s relevant qualifications, experience and approach to feedback.

Structured qualifications and courses

If you want progression beyond individual words, choose a structured programme covering receptive skills, productive skills, grammar and interaction. Check which awarding organisation, qualification level and assessment arrangements apply before paying. You can explore Lead Academy’s British Sign Language courses alongside Deaf-led and research-based resources.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one universally correct BSL sign for “flower”?

Not necessarily. BSL has regional and social variation, and a comparison dictionary may list more than one recorded form. Use a clearly attributed BSL example and consider the usage of the Deaf community with whom you communicate.

Can written instructions teach me the sign?

They can tell you what features to watch, but they cannot fully represent three-dimensional movement, timing or non-manual information. Learn from a clear video model rather than from prose alone.

Why is the demonstration not embedded here?

This page does not have documented permission to republish or embed the third-party recording. Instead, it links directly to the comparison page and identifies the University of Bristol and Deaf Studies Trust example to view.

Should I mouth the English word?

Do not add English speech or mouthing automatically. Observe any visible mouth action in the source. Speaking aloud and producing a linguistic mouth action are not the same thing.

Can I use an ASL sign in BSL?

Do not assume so. ASL and BSL are separate languages, even when an English translation is identical. Select a source explicitly identified as British Sign Language.

How can I check whether I am producing the sign clearly?

Record yourself from a clear front-facing angle and compare the full movement with the attributed example. For dependable feedback and use in connected BSL, work with a suitably qualified teacher, preferably through Deaf-led tuition.

Key takeaway

To learn “flower” in BSL, view the attributed University of Bristol and Deaf Studies Trust recording on the linked comparison page and observe the complete sign—not just its fingers. Compare handshape, location, orientation, movement and non-manual features, and avoid guessing its origin or attaching unsupported regional labels. A dictionary clip is useful for reference; structured Deaf-led learning is the stronger route to accurate, contextual communication.