American Manual Alphabet - Wikipedia

Manual alphabet that augments the vocabulary of American Sign Language

The American Manual Alphabet (AMA) is a manual alphabet that augments the vocabulary of American Sign Language.

Letters and digits

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The letters and digits are signed as follows. In informal contexts, the handshapes are not made as distinctly as they are in formal contexts.

  • 1 1
  • 2 2
  • 3 3
  • 4 4
  • 5 5
  • 6 6
  • 7 7
  • 8 8
  • 9 9
  • 10 10

The manual alphabet can be used on either hand, normally the signer's dominant hand – that is, the right hand for right-handers, the left hand for left-handers.[1] Most frequently, the manual alphabet is signed just below the dominant shoulder of the signer. When used within other signs or in a context in which this is not plausible, this general rule can be disregarded.[2]

J and Z involve motion. J is I with a twist of the wrist, so that the little finger traces the curve of the printed form of the letter; Z is an index finger moved back and forth, so that the finger traces the zig-zag shape of the letter Z. Both of these "tracings" are made as seen by the signer if right-handed, as shown by the illustrations in this article. When signed with the left hand, the motions are in mirror image, therefore unreversed for the viewer. However, fluent signers do not need to "read" the shapes of these movements.[3]

The manual alphabet used in American Sign Language. Letters are shown in a variety of orientations, not as they would be seen by the viewer.
Travis Dougherty explains and demonstrates the ASL alphabet. Voice-over interpretation by Gilbert G. Lensbower.

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. For example, the letters G and H are frequently shown from the side to illustrate the position of the fingers. However, they are signed with the hand in an ergonomically neutral position, palm facing to the side and fingers pointing forward.

Several letters have the same hand shape, and are distinguished by orientation. These are "h" and "u", "k" and "p" (thumb on the middle finger), "g" and "q" and, in informal contexts, "d" and "g/q". In rapid signing, "n" is distinguished from "h/u" by orientation. The letters "a" and "s" have the same orientation, and are very similar in form. The thumb is on the side of the fist in the letter "a", and in front for "s". When used within fingerspelled English words, letters of the manual alphabet may be oriented differently than if they were to stand alone.[2]

Rhythm, speed and movement

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When fingerspelling, the hand is at shoulder height; it does not bounce with each letter. A double letter within a word is signed in different ways, through a bounce of the hand, a slide of the hand, or repeating the sign of a letter.[4] Letters are signed at a constant speed; a pause functions as a word divider. The first letter may be held for the length of a letter extra as a cue that the signer is about to start fingerspelling.

Uses

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Fingerspelling is typically only used in a specific set of circumstances, primarily for proper names (including personal, brand, and place names) and other words that do not have a conventional sign, usually borrowed words from English or other languages.[5] In other instances, fingerspelling is used sparingly.

Changes and variations in the manual alphabet

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Like other languages, American Sign Language is constantly evolving. While changes in fingerspelling are less likely, slight changes still occur over time. The manual alphabet looks different today than it did merely decades ago. A prime example of this pattern of change is found in the "screaming 'E'". Older generations of deaf individuals still insist that the "E" handshape requires that the thumb make contact with the tips of the index and middle fingers. Meanwhile, younger generations are beginning to produce a handshape that separates the thumb from the other fingers on the lower end of the palm.[6]

English and the manual alphabet

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Since fingerspelling was originally developed in order to incorporate the English language into sign language, it is very closely linked to English. Studies have shown that deaf individuals process reading and fingerspelling similarly. As a result, fingerspelling has had a profound impact on the literacy of deaf and hard of hearing children. This conclusion is widely accepted, but the debate lies in which methods of teaching best utilize this relationship.[7]

ASL and phonetics

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Phonetics does not have to be constricted to just speech but it can also be used when signing to others. When signing, the person's expressions could greatly determine the outcome of what they are trying to communicate to the other person. For example, if the signer was trying to sign that they were mad, they would use facial expressions and body language to really determine how they were feeling. Although spoken language also uses these forms of expression, they are not relied on as heavily as Sign Language. The phonetics of verbal speech and sign language are similar because spoken dialect uses tone of voice to determine someone's mood and Sign Language uses facial expressions to determine someone's mood as well. Phonetics does not necessarily only relate to spoken language but it can also be used in American Sign Language (ASL) as well. When signing in ASL, people will not sign words the same way they are spoken either. The relationship between spoken dialect and ASL varies because there is association between certain signs and their words and they are signed differently because ASL is not signed the same way it is spoken.[8][9]

[edit] American Signing
  • A A
  • B B
  • C C
  • D D
  • E E
  • F F
  • G G
  • H H
  • I I
  • J J
  • K K
  • L L
  • M M
  • N N
  • O O
  • P P
  • Q Q
  • R R
  • S S
  • T T
  • U U
  • V V
  • W W
  • X X
  • Y Y
  • Z Z

References

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  1. ^ Tennant, Richard A. (1998). The American Sign Language handshape dictionary. Brown, Marianne Gluszak. Washington, D.C.: Clerc Books, Gallaudet University Press. ISBN 978-1563680434. OCLC 37981448.
  2. ^ a b Valli, Clayton; Ceil, Lucas (2000). Linguistics of American Sign Language (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Gallaudet University Press. p. 66. ISBN 9781563682186.
  3. ^ Stokoe, William C. (2005-01-01). "Sign Language Structure: An Outline of the Visual Communication Systems of the American Deaf". The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. 10 (1): 3–37. doi:10.1093/deafed/eni001. ISSN 1081-4159. PMID 15585746.
  4. ^ "ASL.Land". asl.land. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  5. ^ Geer, Leah C; Keane, Jonathan (2017-01-09). "Improving ASL fingerspelling comprehension in L2 learners with explicit phonetic instruction". Language Teaching Research. 22 (4): 439–457. doi:10.1177/1362168816686988. ISSN 1362-1688. S2CID 151792040.
  6. ^ M., NOMELAND, MELVIA (2011). DEAF COMMUNITY IN AMERICA: HISTORY IN THE MAKING. MCFARLAND. ISBN 978-0-7864-6397-8. OCLC 1154409793.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Scott, Jessica A.; Hansen, Sarah G.; Lederberg, Amy R. (2019). "Fingerspelling and Print: Understanding the Word Reading of Deaf Children". American Annals of the Deaf. 164 (4): 429–449. doi:10.1353/aad.2019.0026. ISSN 1543-0375. PMID 31902797. S2CID 208619892.
  8. ^ Brentari, Diane (2019). "Sign Language Phonology". Cambridge University Press. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Crasborn, Onno (2019). "Phonetics, Phonology, and Prosody" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2023.
[edit]
  • Practice fingerspelling receptive in real life Practice "reading" fingerspelling using real life videos.
  • Fingerspell A free, online practice site with realistic, animated ASL fingerspelling.
  • ASL Fingerspelling Resource Site Free online fingerspelling lessons, quizzes, and activities.
  • ASL Fingerspelling Online Advanced Practice Tool Test and improve your receptive fingerspelling skills using this free online resource.
  • Fingerspelling Beginner's Learning Tool Learn the basic handshapes of the fingerspelled alphabet.
  • Manual Alphabet and Fingerspelling Further information, fingerspelling Tips and video example of ASL Alphabet.
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Other groupings
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By region[a]
Sign languages by region
Africa Algeria Algerian Ghardaia Cameroon Maroua Cape Verde Cape Verdian (LGC) Ghana Adamorobe (AdaSL / Mumu kasa) Nanabin Ivory Coast Bouakako (LaSiBo) Kenya Kenyan Malawi Malawian Mali Bamako (LaSiMa) Berbey Tebul Mozambique Mozambican Nigeria Bura Hausa (Magannar Hannu) Rwanda Rwandan (Amarenga) São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipean (LGSTP) Senegal Mbour Somalia, Somaliland & Djibouti Somali South Africa South African Tanzania Tanzanian Uganda Ugandan Zambia Zambian
Asia Bengal Bengali Cambodia Cambodian China Chinese Hong Kong Hong Kong (HKSL) India Alipur Bengali Indo-Pakistani Naga Indonesia Indonesian Kata Kolok (Benkala, Balinese) Iran Iranian (Esharani) Qahveh Khaneh Iraq Iraqi Kurdish Israel Al-Sayyid Bedouin Ghardaia Israeli Kafr Qasem Japan Japanese Koniya Miyakubo Korea Korean Kazakhstan Kazakh-Russian Laos Laotian Malaysia Malaysian Penang Selangor Maldives Maldives Mongolia Mongolian Nepal Ghandruk Jhankot Jumla Maunabudhuk–Bodhe Nepalese Philippines Filipino Saudi Arabia Saudi Singapore Singapore Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Taiwan Taiwanese Tajikistan Russian Tibet Tibetan (Bökyi lagda) Thailand Old Bangkok Chiangmai Thai Ban Khor (Pasa kidd) Vietnam Vietnamese
Europe Armenia Armenian Austria Austrian Azerbaijan Azerbaijani Belgium Flemish French Belgian United Kingdom British Croatia Croatian Denmark Danish Faroese (Teknmál) Estonia Estonian Finland Finnish France Ghardaia French Lyons Georgia Georgian Germany German Greece Greek Hungary Hungarian Iceland Icelandic Ireland Irish Italy Italian Kosovo Yugoslav (Kosovar) Latvia Latvian Lithuania Lithuanian Moldova Russian Netherlands Dutch North Macedonia Macedonian Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Norway Norwegian Poland Polish Portugal Portuguese Russia Russian Slovenia Slovenian Spain Catalan Spanish Valencian Sweden Swedish Switzerland Swiss-German Turkey Central Taurus (CTSL/OTİD) Mardin Turkish Ukraine Ukrainian
North andCentralAmerica Belize Belizean Canada American (ASL) Black ASL Protactile Hand Talk Oneida (OSL) Plateau Inuit (IUR) Maritime (MSL) Sawmill Quebec Cayman Old Cayman Costa Rica Bribri Brunca Old Costa Rican New Costa Rican Cuba Cuban Greenland Greenlandic (Ussersuataarneq) Guatemala Guatemalan Mayan Haiti Haitian Honduras Bay Islands Honduran Mexico Albarradas Chatino Mayan Mexican Nicaragua Nicaraguan Panama Chiriqui Panamanian Puerto Rico (USA) American (ASL) Puerto Rican Orocovis El Salvador Salvadoran (LESSO) Old Salvadoran United States American (ASL) Black ASL Protactile Hand Talk Oneida (OSL) Plateau Henniker Keresan (Keresign) Martha's Vineyard Navajo Family Sandy River Valley Sawmill
Oceania Australia Akitiri (Eltye eltyarrenke) Arrernte (Iltyeme iltyeme) Auslan Australian-Irish Manjiljarra Mudbura (Mudburra) Ngada Umpila Far North Queensland Warlmanpa Warlpiri (Rdaka rdaka) Warumungu (Warramunga) Western Desert Western Torres Strait Islander Yir Yoront Yolŋu Hawaii (USA) Hawaiʻan (Haoilona ʻŌlelo) New Zealand New Zealand (NZSL) Papua New Guinea Enga Kailge Mehek Mount Avejaha Papua New Guinean (PNGSL) Rossel Island Sinasina Wanib Samoa and American Samoa Samoan
South America Argentina Argentine (LSA) Bolivia Bolivian Brazil Brazilian (Libras) Cena Ka'apor South Rupununi Terena Chile Chilean Colombia Colombian Provisle Ecuador Ecuadorian Guyana Guyanese South Rupununi Paraguay Paraguayan Peru Carhuahuaran Inmaculada Peruvian Sivia Suriname Kajana Uruguay Uruguayan Venezuela Venezuelan
International
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  • Signalong
ASL
  • Grammar
  • Idioms
  • Literature
  • Profanity
  • Name signs
Extinct languages
  • Chilmark
  • Diyari
  • Jaralde
  • Kalkutungu
  • Henniker Sign Language
  • Martha's Vineyard
  • Old French
  • Old Kent
  • Plateau Sign Language
  • Pitha Pitha
  • Sandy River Valley Sign Language
  • Warluwara
Linguistics
  • Grammar (ASL)
  • Bimodal bilingualism
  • Phonology (ASL)
  • Handshape / Location / Orientation / Movement / Expression
  • Mouthing
  • Nonmanual feature
  • Sign names
  • Home sign
Fingerspelling
  • American
  • British (two-handed)
  • Catalan
  • Chilean
  • Esperanto
  • French
  • German
  • Hungarian
  • Irish
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Polish
  • Russian
  • Serbo-Croatian
  • Spanish
  • Ukrainian
  • Portuguese
Writing
  • ASL-phabet
  • Hamburg Notation System
  • Stokoe notation
  • SignWriting
  • si5s
  • ASLwrite ()
Language contact
  • Contact sign
  • Initialized sign
  • Mouthing
Signed Oral Languages
  • Indian Signing System
  • Manually coded English
  • Manually coded language in South Africa
  • Manually Coded Malay
  • Paget Gorman Sign System
  • Signed Dutch
  • Signed French
  • Signed German
  • Signed Italian
  • Signed Japanese
  • Signed Polish
  • Signed Spanish
  • Signing Exact English
  • Signed Swedish
Others
  • Bilingual–bicultural education
  • Manually coded language
Media
  • Films (list)
  • Television shows (list)
Persons
  • Jabbar Baghtcheban
  • Jeanette Berglind
  • Pär Aron Borg
  • Thomas Braidwood
  • Laurent Clerc
  • Abbé de l'Épée
  • Roger Fouts
  • Valerie Sutton
  • Thomas Gallaudet
  • Abbé Sicard
  • William Stokoe
  • Pierre Pélissier
Organisations
  • Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada
  • International Center on Deafness and the Arts
  • Mimics and Gesture Theatre
  • World Association of Sign Language Interpreters
Miscellaneous
  • Baby sign language
  • CHCI chimpanzee center (Washoe, Loulis)
  • Open Outcry
  • Legal recognition
  • U.S. Army hand and arm signals
  • Monastic sign languages
  • Tactile signing
  • Protactile
  • Tic-tac
^a Sign-language names reflect the region of origin. Natural sign languages are not related to the spoken language used in the same region. For example, French Sign Language originated in France, but is not related to French. Conversely, ASL and BSL both originated in English-speaking countries but are not related to each other; ASL however is related to French Sign Language.

^b Denotes the number (if known) of languages within the family. No further information is given on these languages.

^c Italics indicate extinct languages.

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