Talk:American manual alphabet
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[edit] Numbers
I've taken a few semesters of ASL at my university, and it was made explicity clear that numbers such as those from 1 - 5 are shown with the palm in (unless it is a money sign, etc). Is this illustration incorrect? Lordwow
- I've never heard of such a rule. ' (Feeling chatty? ) (Edits!) 22:49, 19 January 2006 (UTC)
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- I posted the illustration and even when I did so, I was aware of a similar rule that was taught to me in an ASL class. My take on the illustration is that it is designed to show how to form the hand and fingers, but not necessarily which way to face the hand. (i.e. if the back of the hand was displayed in the illustration, it may not be clear how to hold the fingers against the palm) That's my theory, anyways. --Ds13 23:15, 19 January 2006 (UTC)
Note about chart: B is shown as the second person would see it, whereas g,h are shown as 1st person sees it. This inconsistency is pretty common, but makes it difficult to understand whether a letter sign is palm in or palm out. (Andrew)
Oh, just read above. Maybe someone can find a better chart.(Andrew)
Yes, 1-5 are palm in. For long numbers, such as phone numbers, they are signed with the palm out - the switching from palm in to out in out out... in would be distracting. Most images of the alphabet and numbers show incorrect palm orientation. I might make photos from signers POV and receivers POV. Not today however.(Mike.lifeguard)
Is this one any better? It will still not show you HOW to sign them in space, just how to form the handshapes. Cwterp 17:27, 4 June 2007 (UTC)
[edit] title change please
This alphabet is called the American Manual Alphabet, not the American Sign Language Alphabet. I don't know how to change the title of the article, but it is wrong. this is according to Sternberg, Martin L. A. American Sign Language. New York: Harper & Row, 1981. Mike.lifeguard 19:44, 12 October 2006 (UTC)Mike.lifeguard
- Should really be American manual alphabet (not capitalised). I'll move it. ntennis 06:03, 22 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] International differences
Firstly, this reference:
- The ASL alphabet is based on an old Spanish manual alphabet that dates back to at least the seventeenth century.
should have a citation, since every single reference to the origins of the American Manual Alphabet that I've read say that it is actually based on the French model, not the Spanish.
Secondly, I deleted the following paragraph:
It is used with minor modification in Paraguay, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. The Asian countries just listed modify the T, for the ASL T is considered obscene. Instead, they use the T of the Irish manual alphabet, which is like an ASL X, but with the thumb tucked into the index finger (that is, the index finger wraps around the tip of the thumb). In Thailand, one indicates points on the left hand for the tone and vowel marks of the Thai alphabet, and aspiration is not indicated. The Paraguay alphabet is identical to ASL, except for the addition of the letter Ñ, which is an N swiveled at the wrist so that the fingers move side to side, and the letters LL and RR, which are L and R plus movement to the side.
because this article is about the American Manual Alphabet, not about international methods of fingerspelling. --Micahbrwn 01:06, 10 April 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Help text on "e"
"Thumb also often lower (like a claw)" ... Like a Claw? Not only is this not particularly helpful, it seems to promote, assist, aid or abet raptors. Not good. Tar7arus 14:01, 5 May 2007 (UTC)
- its also incorrect. Its true that you will see it, but only by people who only need to use it infrequently. It is a quick way to Carpel Tunnel :-) Cwterp 17:16, 4 June 2007 (UTC)
