Two-handed manual alphabet

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Several manual alphabets in use around the world employ two hands for some or all of the letters.

Contents

[edit] BANZSL alphabet

This alphabet is used in the BANZSL group of sign languages. It has been used in British Sign Language and Auslan since at least the 19th century, and in New Zealand Sign Language since the 1970s.

This chart shows the BANZSL alphabet.
This chart shows the BANZSL alphabet.

[edit] Notes

  • Signs may be made with the left or right hand as the dominant hand, but the roles do not usually switch while fingerspelling. The dominant hand generally acts as a pointer (or 'pen') while the secondary hand acts as 'paper'.
  • The vowels A, E, I, O and U are formed by touching each digit respectively, starting with the thumb.
  • The letters C, D, J, K, P, Q, T, V, X and Y make the shape of the letter itself.
  • The letters B, F, G, L, M, N, R, S and W suggest the shape of the letter.
  • The letters G, L and R suggest only the lowercase form of the letter.
  • Only the letters H and Z do not have a strong relation to their shape or position in the alphabet.
  • Many letters appear backwards (for example in right-handed fingerspelling: R will appear backwards, and D will often appear backwards to the viewer). This is not a mistake or a problem, and your signing does not need to be adjusted to compensate.

[edit] Deafblind alphabet

This is a variation on the above alphabet, modified for use by deafblind people.

The signer holds the wrist of the receiver. The receiver's hand is relaxed, with the palm open and fingers slightly apart. The signer uses their dominant hand like a pen to sign on the non-dominant hand of the receiver. As a beginner, you may squeeze the wrist of the receiver between words since you will spell haltingly. Once you can spell fluently, simply put a short pause between words. AEIOU are the pads of each finger.

  • A: Touch the pad of the thumb
  • B: The fingers and thumb squish together and tap (firmly) the palm
  • C: Draw your finger along the edge of the thumb and up the index finger (shape of a C)
  • D: Touch the index finger at the tip and the first knuckle
  • E: Touch the pad of the index finger
  • F: With your index and middle fingers together, touch the middle of the outside of the index finger (capital F has two crosses)
  • G: Place a closed fist on the palm (as if slamming your fist down in anger)
  • H: Sweep your hand across the palm extending all the way to the tips of the fingers (hhhhhh is a soft sound)
  • I: Touch the pad of the middle finger
  • J: Touch the pad of the middle finger, and draw a J towards the thumb (looks like a J, and is similar to American Manual Alphabet J)
  • K: With a curled index finger, touch your knuckle to the first knuckle of the index finger (forms the shape of a K)
  • L: Lay your index finger diagonally across the palm from the base of the index finger (lower-case l)
  • M: Lay three fingers across the palm diagonally (m touches the line it sits on in 3 places; this is similar to AMA M)
  • N: Lay two fingers across the palm diagonally (n touches the line it sits on in 2 places; this is similar to AMA N)
  • O: Touch the pad of the ring finger
  • P: Pinch the pad and nail of the index finger (P for pinch)
  • Q: Hook your curled index finger around the thumb
  • R: Place your curled index finger on the palm, off to one side (away from the thumb) (looks like a backwards lower-case r)
  • S: Hook your curled index finger around the little finger
  • T: Touch the side of the hand with an index finger (side opposite the thumb) (T for touch)
  • U: Touch the pad of the little finger
  • V: Place your index and middle fingers on the palm wide apart, forming a V (looks like V)
  • W: 3 ways to do this; all are acceptable, but your receiver might not know them all. 1:Interlace your fingers with theirs 2:Grab all their fingers from the side (if your hand is folded over, their index finger lays across the first knuckles of your hand) 3:Grab their fingers from the top (if your hand is folded over, their fingertips lay across the first knuckles of your hand)
  • X: With an index finger, touch the side of the index finger in the middle (forms an X)
  • Y: Draw a line across the palm diagonally from the base of the index finger (like drawing the tail of a y)
  • Z: Draw a Z across the palm (is Z)

This is often used by people who are Deafblind, and can easily incorporate ASL signs if the receiver knows them and can feel what you are signing.

[edit] Turkish manual alphabet

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[edit] References