Communication Link: A Dictionary of Signs

I had been using an old copy of "Communication Link: A Dictionary of Signs." for years. It was very easy for me and my Downs Syndrome son to use.So when I need to replace it, I was not very happy as normally the "NEW" of anything is never as good as the "OLD" one. But, I am very pleased to report that this new dictionary is just as easy to use as the old one and it is far more comprehensive.

A valuable book for anybody wanting to learn BSL, A good range of signs presented in clear easy to understand illustrations.

What a pity this book didn't live up to its promise to be regularly revised, only 2 revisions in 22 years? Great when it first came out, there was nothing and it was my bible, but now there is so much more and better, like the Signaling books, Sign Linguistics and Let's Sign dictionaries (the previous reviewer please take note). Just type British sign language in an amazon search and behold!

Along with "Dictionary of British Sign Language" by David Brien and Mary Brennan, "Communication Link" is the most consise BSL dictionary available. With plenty of signs and good explanations, this book is a nice help when learning BSL. that some signs learned in BSL classes can be regional signs and may differ from the dictionary's entry.

However, it is a shame, that signs have not been arranged thematically instead of alphabetically. Riekehof's "The Joy of Signing" on ASL is done that way and readers can much easily find information in sections like family, education, body, etc. This also encourages to read about similar signs within sections.

Let's hope the 4th edition of "Communication Link" will rearrange its signs in a more learner-oriented way and put signs in different topic sections and just have an alphabetical index of signs in the end.

More grammar wouldn't harm either.

What a great book. Ours lives on the coffee table so that it is always to hand. As a family we learnt Makaton but out grew it really fast and this book just fitted the bill.

I would recommend it to anyone who is learning to sign. In fact I keep buying as presents for friends who want to start signing