Fingerspelling: Introduction to Fingerspelling

The BSL fingerspelling alphabet is not difficult to learn, but there are variations in how some letters are formed on the fingers and hands - they are produced using different movements and in flowing patterns, just as verbal languages speak the entire word, not the individual letters.

Patterns help the receiver to see the middle or last part of English word eg, roTor and last letter eg PAD - PAT, PAN, PAM, PAZ, PAR, PAL, PACK, PAP. PASS, PAV, PAW, PAX, PAY.

Some letters can/should be formed slightly differently, depending on the word, the position of the letter in the word and sometimes the context - so it is useful to know and how!

There are also occasional variations in different regions and between different signers. So here's a basic guide, letter by letter, showing you a few examples of slightly different movements, orientations and even handshapes according to where the letter is in an English word.

All videos have subtitles if you need them. Just click on the 'CC" button underneath the video when it appears on the screen.

Subjects

An Introduction to Fingerspelling

Click on the link here to go through to the video section and learn all about fingerspelling.
You can try the test below, but bear in mind you will see the entire video, not just a test clip. Don't cheat by looking at the subtitles!