Sign Language Alphabet
The key to learning how to fingerspell the sign language alphabet is repetition. When I was first learning to fingerspell the alphabet I was very slow and extremely clumsy....so don't get discouraged. Just keep practicing every chance you get. Sometimes I find myself just sitting on the couch or in the car and I start to fingerspell my alphabet from A - Z. Make a game out of it. See how fast you can sign the alphabet each time and before you know it, you're going to be a pro.
Learning sign language is all about practice and being repetitive. My children and I have been signing for over two years and we practice everyday. Its just a part of our everyday lives. We love signing the alphabet, even my two year old can do it. It just takes practice.
What is Fingerspelling?
Learning the American Sign Language Alphabet
Fingerspelling is the process of spelling out words by using signs that correspond to the letters of the word. An ASL user would use the American Fingerspelled Alphabet, (also called the American Manual Alphabet). There are many different manual alphabets throughout the world.
The American Fingerspelled Alphabet consists of 22 handshapes that--when held in certain positions and/or are produced with certain movements-- represent the 26 letters of the American alphabet.
American Sign Language Alphabet
Sign Language Songs - Alphabet
Signing Time A's For Alligator Song
After watching Signing Time Vol 3's ABC Signs numerous time, my son & I finally got thru each and every signs and are able to follow the entire song in it's entirety. This is definitely a better move-up from signing ABCs
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curated content from YouTube
Fingerspelling Charts
Learning the American Sign Language Alphabet
Using Proper Form
Proper From when signing the American Sign Language Alphabet
The hand should either remain in place while fingerspelling, or more often, drift slightly away from the midline in the manner of text being written out in the air; although this is a subtle movement, and should not be exaggerated.If fingerspelling multiple words or entire sentences, there should be a very brief pause between terms so as to signify the beginning and ending of individual words.
Long nails or excessive jewelry can be distracting when watching fingerspelling and for this reason people who regularly use sign language usually avoid them.
When fingerspelling acronyms in American Sign Language, such as with FBI, NASA, or RID, the letters are often moved in a small circle to emphasize that they should not be read together as a word.
When fingerspelling the hand should not bounce between letters. An exception is the case of double letters as with the word carry in which the double R can be shown by slightly bouncing the corresponding handshape, or by dragging it, slightly, to the side. Either method is a correct way to show double letters. However, people who bounce between every letter produce fingerspelling that is very hard to watch or understand. Those who cannot overcome the habit of bouncing every letter may find it helpful to hold the wrist of the hand doing the fingerspelling with the free hand so that they are forced to keep the hand from moving up and down while fingerspelling. It usually only a few hours or days of this is to break the habit of unnecessary bouncing while fingerspelling.
Great Fingerspelling Products
Sign Language Alphabet
Signed Finger Alphabet Cards
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009) 
Sign Language Alphabet Notecards
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Signing Safari Teach Your Child to Sign: Beginner Signs & Alphabet
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 12/22/2009)
Finger Alphabet Bingo (sign language)
Amazon Price: $10.95 (as of 12/22/2009)
Common Mistakes
Learning the American Sign Language Alphabet
Many mistakes made by beginning fingerspellers are directly attributable to how the manual alphabet is most often shown in graphics.In most drawings or illustrations of the American Manual Alphabet, some of the letters are depicted from the side to better illustrate the desired hand shape; however in practice, the hand should not be turned to the side when producing the letter. The letters C and O are two that are often mistakenly turned to the side by beginners who become used to seeing them from the side in illustrations. Important exceptions to the rule that the palm should always be facing the viewer are the letters G and H. These two letters should be made, not with the palm facing the viewer or the speaker, but with the palm facing sideways - the hand in an ergonomically neutral position.
Regardless of how they first learn the alphabet, many new signers also commonly confuse "a" and "s." The thumb should be on the side of your fist for the letter "a," but should be folded around the front of your fist for "s."
Also, note that the letter "k" points up, but the letter "p" points down; the hand shapes are otherwise the same. In both cases, be sure to put the thumb on your middle finger, NOT in between your fingers.
The letters "u" and "h" share the same hand shape, but "h" points your fingers to the side and "u" points your fingers up.
Another common error is to confuse "d" and "f." With the letter "d," your pointer finger sticks up but your other three fingers are curved inward to touch tips with your thumb. The letter "f" is opposite" you curve your pointer finger inward to touch tips with your thumb but stick the other three fingers upward, in a splayed position. Beginners may wish to be especially careful in double checking that they remember these letters correctly when they work on memorizing the alphabet.
Sign Language Alphabet Books
Learning the American Sign Language Alphabet twith Books from Amazon
![The Joy of Signing: The Illustrated Guide for Mastering Sign Language and the Manual Alphabet [JOY OF SIGNING 2/E]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413UluRSFfL._SL75_.jpg)
The Joy of Signing: The Illustrated Guide for Mastering Sign Language and the Manual Alphabet [JOY OF SIGNING 2/E]
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Handsigns: A Sign Language Alphabet
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 12/22/2009)
American Sign Language Alphabet: Webster's Timeline History, 1986
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 12/22/2009)
Finger Alphabet (Beginning Sign Language Series)
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 12/22/2009)
Magnetic Finger Alphabet: A to Z in Sign Language (Sign Language Materials)
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/22/2009)
The Letter "A"
A closed fist, all finger folded against the palm, thumb is straight, alongside the index finger.
The Letter "B"
All fingers are straight. Thumb is folded across palm.
The Letter "C"
All fingers partially folded. Thumb is partially folded. Hand is turn slightly to the left so viewer can see backward "C" shape formed by thumb and index finger.
The Letter "D"
Middle, ring and little fingers are partially folded. Tip of thumb is touching tip of middle finger. Index finger is straight. Hand is turned slightly so viewer can see "d" shape formed by thumb, middle and index fingers.
The Letter "E"
Thumb is folded across in front of palm but not touching it. All fingers are partially folded with the tips of index, middle and ring fingers touching the thumb between the knuckle and the tip.
The Letter "F"
Tip of index finger is touching tip of thumb. Middle, ring and little fingers are straight and slightly spread.
The Letter "G"
Middle, ring and little fingers are folded down across palm. Thumb is straight but pulled in so that it is in front of the index finger. The index finger is straight and pointing forwards slightly so that it is parallel to the thumb, The thumb and index f
The Letter "H"
Ring and little finger are folded down. Thumb is folded over ring and little finger. Index finger and middle finger are straight and together. The hand is tilted over so that the fingers are horizontal and pointing to the left.
The Letter "I"
Index, middle and ring fingers are folded down. Thumb is folded across index middle and ring fingers. Little finger is straight.
The Letter "J"
Index, middle and ring fingers are folded down. Thumb is folded across index middle and ring fingers. Little finger is straight. The hand is moved so that little finger draws a "J" shape. Motion is a curve moving forward and then right. The hand turns to
The Letter "K"
Ring and little fingers are folded down. Index and middle finger are straight and slightly spread. Thumb is straight and pointing up to the middle finger. (This is very similar to P the only difference is the position the hand is facing)
The Letter "L"
Middle, ring and little finger are folded down over palm. Index finger and thumb are straight. Thumb is sticking out sideways at 90 degrees to index finger to form "L" shape.
The Letter "M"
Little finger is folded. Thumb is folded across to touch little finger. Index, middle and ring fingers are folded down over thumb.
The Letter "N"
Little and ring finger are folded. Thumb is folded across ring and little finger. Index finger and middle finger are folded down over thumb.
The Letter "O"
All fingers are partially folded. Thumb is partially folded and tip of thumb is touching tip of index finger. Hand is turned slightly so viewer can see "O" shape formed by thumb and index finger.
The Letter "P"
Ring and little finger are folded down. Index finger is straight. Middle finger is straight but pointing forward so that is at 90 degrees to index finger. Tip of thumb is touching middle of middle finger. Hand is turned to the left and twisted over so tha
The Letter "Q"
Ring and little fingers are folded down across palm. Thumb is straight but pulled in so that it is in front of the index finger. The index finger is straight and pointing forwards slightly so that it is parallel to the thumb. The index finger and thumb ar
The Letter "R"
Ring and little finger are folded against the palm, held down by thumb, index and middle finger are straight and crossed, index finger in front.
The Letter "S"
Clenched fist. All fingers folded tightly into palm. Thumb is across index and middle fingers
The Letter "T"
Middle, ring and little fingers are fold down across palm. Thumb is folded across middle finger. Index finger is folded over thumb.
The Letter "U"
Ring and little finger are folded against the palm, held down by thumb, index and middle finger are straight and together.
The Letter "V"
Ring and little finger fold against the palm, held down by thumb, index and middle finger are straight and spread to form a "V" shape.
The Letter "W"
Tip of little finger is touching tip of thumb. Index, middle and ring fingers are straight and slightly spread.
The Letter "X"
Middle, ring and little fingers are folded down. Index finger is bent at both joints. Thumb is pulled in and slightly bent at the joint. The hand is turned to the left so view can see thumb and index finger.
The Letter "Y"
Index, middle and ring ringers folded against palm. Little finger and thumb are straight and spread wide.
The Letter "Z"
Middle, ring and little fingers are folded. Thumb is folded across middle and ring fingers. Index finger is straight. The hand is moved so that the tip of index finger draws out a "Z" shape. The motion is (1) from right to left. (2) from left to right and
Show Me a Sign!
Can You Spell A - Z? Ash Grey T-Shirt
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Can You Spell A - Z? White T-Shirt
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Can You Spell A - Z? Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt
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Mommy Value T-shirt
Price: 13.99
Absolutely the GREATEST DVD
for Learning the Sign Language Alphabet
Signing Time Volume 5: ABC Signs DVD
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 12/22/2009)
Signing Time! Volume 5: ABC Signs VHS [VHS]
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
The Love Hand T-Shirt
Take in pride in Sign Langauge with this creativeLove Hand T-Shirt designed by Lensmaster
Cheryl Paton. Cheryl is a creative artist with a passion for fashion. Be sure to check out some of her Squidoo Lenses and Zazzle Fashions!
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Here's my favorite link:
I Love Your Comments!
Tell me what you think of the Sign Language Alphabet
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- mukunda22 mukunda22 Oct 28, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
- I just swooped by to give you something I was unable to give you before: ####Blessings####
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- Ramkitten Ramkitten Oct 21, 2009 @ 10:14 am
- This is excellent! I love the graphics and your explanations. I remember learning to sign the alphabet in grade school, but unfortunately, through lack of use, I'd forgotten many of the letters. Looking through your lens, though, most of it came right back to me.
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- CoolFoto CoolFoto Oct 16, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
- Thanks for your visit. This looks like a great introduction to signing. I found myself imitating the pictures with my right hand as I read it.
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- Pukeko Pukeko Sep 22, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
- This is fantastic. Nice job
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- Starving_Artist Starving_Artist Sep 15, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
- I work at a non-profit that works with developmentally delayed children...I will be showing this lens to staff members. This is so informative!
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- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Sep 3, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
- Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone learned sign language so that the hearing impaired could feel included.
Lensrolled to Chester Raccoon and The Kissing Hand: a unit study that includes suggestions on how to teach America Sign Language.
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- mukunda22 mukunda22 Aug 27, 2009 @ 10:37 pm
- Excellent tutorial on The Universal Language. I loved it!!
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- alteredkat alteredkat Aug 13, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
- I used to know how to sign the alphabet (when I was a kid and in brownies) and recently could have used this useful skill to speak with a deaf child who we bumped into had I not forgotten this skill. :o(
Great lens. Very informative! Thanks for posting it and thank you for recently visiting my dehydrate pears snack lens. I appreciate your comments.
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- ajgodinho ajgodinho Aug 2, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
- Excellent lens...you put in a lot of work into it and it shows...5*s!
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- CreativeArtist CreativeArtist Jul 25, 2009 @ 10:36 am
- Cool lens!
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About the Author
Lensmaster ChineseKitesforKids has been a member since March 16 2009, has rated 1,513 lenses, favorited 422, and has created 29 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Sign Language Alphabet". See all my lenses
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Rocket Moms are making a big buzz all over the web and I am so proud to be one of them. Get to know who the Rocket Moms are and what makes them such a huge sensation. These are some of my favorite Rocket Mom lenses.-
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