Use them to better understand concepts and jargon that may come up in a particular occupational, educational, or interpreting context, and to discover some possible BSL that you could use in that context.
Consider where, if and how you might use a ‘new’ sign. The fact that a sign exists in a glossary does not mean it is widely used or that you should use it in any individual context. It is not a crime to not use it.
However, where glossaries are of terms used by people relevant to (their) self-identity then adopt them unless you have reason not to. For example, signs relating to sexual identity.
If you do use a sign or phrase you have found in a glossary that may not be known by participants, introduce (scaffold) it so that its’ meaning is understood. There is not a lot of point to using the sign for ‘carbon footprint’ if no one except you knows that is what the sign means.
Be collaborative where possible, discussing and agreeing new vocabulary before using it; or if that is not possible, check understanding before continuing to use it.
Respect and reflect signs that BSL users use, even where not the sign in a glossary, unless the signs used may be experienced as pejorative, in which case you may feel it appropriate to use different language, for example, relating to sexual identity or ethnicity.
Remember glossaries represent the choices of those involved in developing a glossary at a particular point in time. Not all BSL users will agree with all included items, and different signs may be used by different BSL communities.
Finally, where the glossary contains new signs, these are often the result of a lot of work by teams of experts. So, they are an excellent opportunity for us to explore and reflect on why, and how, new signs have been developed; for example, exploring the visual motivation and use of root signs.