Master the Sign Language Alphabet: Tips for Successful Fingerspelling in ASL

Introduction:

If you are new to the world of American Sign Language, you might think that mastering the sign language alphabet is an annoying, but minor, part of your study. But there's more to it than that. Fingerspelling is an essential aspect of sign language communication that should not be overlooked.

Importance of Fingerspelling:

Fingerspelling is used to identify proper nouns, such as names of people, places, movie titles, and brands. It's also used for emphasis, to specify a particular word when a sign has multiple meanings, and to communicate terms that may not have a sign yet.

Benefits of Fingerspelling:

As a new signer, you might feel hesitant about engaging in conversation, especially if your vocabulary is still limited. But fingerspelling can bridge the gap in conversation and help you communicate more effectively with others. When you learn to fingerspell well, you'll be able to express yourself more fully, ask questions, and share your thoughts and ideas without feeling as limited by your vocabulary.

Tips to Master Fingerspelling:

1. Fingerspell Clearly:
   Remember that your hand and wrist are doing all the work. Keep your arm relaxed against the side of your body, and your hand at a comfortable distance in front of your shoulder. Make sure that you are using your dominant hand to fingerspell at all times! Keep your hand steady and do not clench your hand or bounce your letters.

2. Fingerspell Smoothly:
   Focus on the overall movement and shape of a word, instead of the perfection of individual letters. It's like writing in cursive, where each letter's shape affects the letters that come after it. Use the practice technique called "chunking" to learn to transition between common letter combinations. Break words up into small pieces and practice those letters together.

3. Use Context to Help You:
   Use the conversation topic to help you narrow down the pool of possible words being fingerspelled. Then, ask the person to repeat the word a bit more slowly. Your main job is to catch the first and last letters and notice the total length of the word. Certain letters (like G, H, and Y) will probably also be easy to spot. Now, you can use your knowledge of the topic to help you piece together the word.

The Impact of Great Fingerspelling

Fingerspelling is an essential aspect of sign language communication that should not be overlooked. As an ASL instructor, I've seen firsthand how learning fingerspelling can boost your confidence and skills in sign language communication. That's why I include my Fantastic Fingerspelling course in all Stellar ASL Memberships. So why not take the next step and sign up for a class with me today? You'll be amazed at how quickly you can improve your skills.