Creating, personalising and modifying graphics

It is possible to personalise certain symbols and corresponding signs to make them more meaningful. However, any modifications made must take account of the Makaton symbols design themes, details of which can be obtained from The Makaton Charity.

The most frequently required modifications are discussed below.

Adding names to friends and family

Symbols

There are two versions for each of the symbols for brother and sister.


brother	brother	sister	sister

To personalise the symbol for brother and sister, add the initial letter of the name in the version with a box, for example:


	John	Margaret

Other people symbols (father, mother, man, lady, boy, girl, friend can also be personalised by adding a box with an initial to the right of the symbol, for example:


Hitten	Elizabeth	Sujata	Rob

Signs

To add names to signs, select an appropriate descriptive sign for the person, such as mother, father, brother, sister, lady, man, boy, girl, baby, or friend, then add the finger spelling for either the initial letter of the person's first name, or the name they are known by, or add the finger spelling for the initial letter of the person's first and family names, for example:

A brother called Jassim


	(Brother)	(J)

My friend Sarah


	(Friend)	(S)

If there are two brothers/ friends with the same initials, then add a further sign to clarify, for example:

Jassim


(Brother)	(J)	(Tall)

Sarah


(Friend)	(S)	(Short)

Note: The text under these combined signs and finger spelling, should be the actual name, for example Jassim or Sarah. The words in brackets are only shown in these examples to help you identify the signs to use.

The procedure for a personal name sign is the same as that described above for family and friends, but it is important to think of the context in which it will be used, for example at school/ college or amongst family and friends. This could make a difference to the finger-spelling you use. For example, you may only finger-spell the initial letter of your first name, or you may wish to be more formal and finger-spell the initials of your first and family names.

Professional people

Symbols

If the title of the profession is a neutral one and does not include man or woman , use the symbol for person together with a small identifying symbol placed to the right at head level to indicate the profession.


nurse	farmer	firefighter	sailor

If you particularly wish to indicate the gender, you can add the identifying features to the person symbol. For male, add trousers; for female, add hair and a skirt.


nurse	farmer	firefighter	sailor

Where the word for the professional title includes man or woman, there is both a male and a female version.


milkman	milkwoman	policeman	policewoman

Signs

There are male and female versions of the professions. There is a neutral BSL sign for person but the signs for man and woman are used because they are more iconic and transparent.

To include a name, follow the same procedure as detailed above, for example, the Postman's name is Bill Smith:


Postman	(B)	(S)

Buildings and rooms

Symbols

The names of public buildings can be added to existing symbols by writing the full name, or a recognised abbreviation, across the roof space and adding a line across the roof.


supermarket	Food Mart	cinema	The Regal

You can also use the appropriate shapes to represent buildings or rooms for which symbols are not currently provided.


	library	library

Note: The above example illustrates the importance of choosing the correct symbol or sign to match the environment, in this case an independent building or a room within a building.

Signs

To sign the name of a building, use the sign for the particular building, for example, supermarket or cinema and then either finger-spell the initial letter of the name, or the full name, or abbreviations.

Food Mart Supermarket


(supermarket)	(F)	(M)

Who uses Makaton?

Using Makaton symbols with other symbols