ASL or the American Sign Language Alphabet is contained in the American manual alphabet which augments the entire vocabulary of the American Sign Language, when only spelling letters of a word individually is preferred or is the only option. This situation arises when names of titles of works are used. The letters are usually signed with the dominant hand with the palm facing the viewer.
The American Sign Language alphabet’s basis is the Old Spanish Manual alphabet whose existence is traced back to the seventeenth century. This sign language is also used in Germany, Norway, Finland, and Austria etc with a few modifications. Letters like T, A, O, U, S etc differ from the original American Sign Language alphabet. While using finger spelling, the hand is supposed to remain in place or can drift a little away from the midline like a text is being written in thin air. If a long sentence is involved there must be a short pause between words or terms.
Generally long nails or excessive jewellery can prove to be distracting hence people usually avoid wearing them. When acronyms are to be spelt (such as NASA or USA) the letters are moved along a small circle to show that they must not be read together as a word. The hand is not supposed to bounce too much while finger spelling except when the same alphabet is repeated.
For instance if there is a word involving two t’s, like in the word letter then it can be shown by bouncing or dragging the fingers a bit, to the side, from its initial position. However there are people who tend to bounce between almost every letter that they use and in such cases it becomes exceedingly difficult to understand or watch.
People who find it difficult to keep their hands still while finger spelling will find it helpful to hold the wrist of the dominant hand which is use for finger spelling with the free hand to ensure no movement of the wrist.
A few hours or days of practice this way and you’ll be able to overcome the habit of bouncing every letter while finger spelling. Rhythm, movement and speed are the three most important aspects of finger spelling and one will have to master this in order to master the art of finger spelling. Firstly your hand will have to be at shoulder height while finger spelling and should be very steady (that is it should not bounce off with every letter).
The hand must stay in one place and only the shape of the hand must change. And as common sense has it, slow clear finger spelling is a better way of communicating rather than fast finger spelling. Initially, Speed is not what one should concentrate on. The hand shapes must be formed well or else it will be difficult for even the natives to read it. Even if it is done at a slow pace the entire word should be spelt at the same pace and then there must a brief pause before getting on to the next.
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Sign Language for Years. For More Information on ASL American Sign Language, Visit His Site at ASL AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGEI Will Also Highly Appreciate Your Views On ASL American Sign Language At My Blog here