Fingerspelling basics: how to practise, read it faster and avoid common mistakes

TUREFF• •0

Fingerspelling is the part of sign language most beginners learn first, and the part many still struggle to read years later. It is the way signers spell out words letter by letter on their hands. Used well, it fills gaps; relied on too heavily, it slows everything down.

What fingerspelling is for

Fingerspelling represents the letters of a written language. Signers use it mainly for:

names of people, places and brands
words that have no established sign, or technical terms
clarifying a sign the other person does not know

It is not a substitute for signing. A sentence spelled out letter by letter is tiring to read and is not how fluent signers talk.

One hand or two: ASL and BSL differ

Different sign languages use different manual alphabets:

American Sign Language (ASL) uses a one-handed alphabet. Each letter is a handshape made with your dominant hand, held to the side of your body around shoulder height.
British Sign Language (BSL) uses a two-handed alphabet, as do Auslan and New Zealand Sign Language. Most letters are made by one hand touching or pointing to the other; the vowels, for example, are shown by pointing to the fingertips of the non-dominant hand.

Learn the alphabet of the sign language you are actually studying. Mixing the two is a common beginner muddle.

How to practise producing it

Learn the shapes accurately first. Use a chart or video from a reputable course and check each letter with a teacher, because small differences in thumb or finger position can change the letter.
Spell words, not letters. Once you know the alphabet, practise whole words so your hand learns the transitions between letters.
Aim for smooth rhythm over speed. A steady, even pace is easier to read than a fast spell with jerky pauses.
Keep your hand still in space (for one-handed alphabets). Bouncing the hand for each letter makes it harder to read.
Spell everyday things. Street signs, shop names and items on your desk make good drill material.

How to get better at reading it

Reading fingerspelling is usually harder than producing it, because fluent signers spell quickly and blur letters together.

Read the shape of the whole word, not each letter. Experienced readers recognise the movement pattern of a word the way you recognise a written word without sounding it out.
Look at the hand, but keep the face in view. Many signers mouth the word as they spell it, which helps.
Use context. If someone is talking about where they live, the spelled word is probably a place name.
Practise with real people and videos, not only with your own hand. Online receptive-practice tools that flash spelled words at increasing speeds can help too.
Ask for a repeat. It is normal and polite to ask someone to spell again, or more slowly.

Common mistakes

Saying each letter aloud in your head, which caps your speed. Train yourself to see words.
Spelling too much. If a sign exists, learn and use it.
Stopping completely when you miss one letter. Keep watching; the rest of the word often fills the gap.
Holding your hand too close to your face or too far out to the side, making it awkward to see.
Forgetting to look up. Fingerspelling is part of a conversation, so keep eye contact between words.

Fingerspelling and names

When you meet Deaf people you will spell your own name a lot, so practise it until it is fluent. In many Deaf communities, people are later given a name sign by Deaf members of the community; it is generally considered a gift rather than something to invent for yourself. How long did it take you to read fingerspelling comfortably, and what helped? Share your tips and questions in the comments below.