INT - Manual Alphabet and Fingerspelling (Lesson)

Manual Alphabet

The set of handshapes used in ASL to spell words is known as the manual alphabet.

The American Sign Language manual alphabet consists of 22 handshapes.  When held in certain positions and/or are produced with certain movements, the handshapes represent the 26 letters of the alphabet. 

Manual Alphabet Video

Watch this video to learn how to sign the ASL manual alphabet.

 

 

Click here to download a copy of the alphabet that you can print. Links to an external site.

Fingerspelling

Fingerspelling is the process of spelling out words by using the manual alphabet.

The following are words that are typically produced by fingerspelling. 

• Proper nouns
• • First, last, and middle names; 
  • Names of places (cities, states, schools, stores)
• Titles of movies and books 
• Words with no signs
• Technical vocabulary
• Specific nouns
• Abbreviations/acronyms
• When you don’t know the sign

Watch this video lesson to learn more about how to properly fingerspell in ASL. 

Click here to download a copy of the video handout. Links to an external site.

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION; Video used by permission from AASD Accessible Materials Project.