Fingerspelling is the act of spelling out words with the hands, using a manual alphabet. Fingerspelling is an important part of sign languages. Different sign languages (they are not universal) use differnt manual alphabets - some one-handed and others two-handed.

Fingerspelling is used in sign language for words and names for which there is no sign. Although, some words are preferably fingerspelt even when there is an equivalent sign. Fingerspelling can also be used for emphasis, clarification, or (sometimes extensively) when teaching or learning a sign language.

Fingerspelling is often rapid so that the individual letters become difficult to distinguish, and the word is grasped from the overall hand movement.

When persons fluent in sign language read fingerspelling, they do not look at the signers hand, but maintain eye contact and look at the face of the signer beacause facial expressions and body language are such an important part of sign language. People who are just learning fingerspelling often find it impossible to understand it using just their peripheral vision and must look directly at the hand of someone who is fingerspelling. Often, they must also ask the signer to fingerspell slowly. For people who did not learn sign language as their first language, it frequently takes years of expressive and receptive practice to become skilled with fingerspelling.

Good fingerspelling form

The hand(s) should either remain in place while fingerspelling, or more often, drift slighly 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 jewlery can be distracting when watching fingerspelling and for this reason people who regularly use sign language usually avoid these conditions.

In American Sign Language (ASL)

When fingerspelling acronyms, 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.

Additonally, when fingerspelling the hand should not bounce between letters. An excpetion is the case of double letters as with the word carry in which the double R can be shown by sligtly 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 in 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. Usually, only a few hours or days of this is enough to break the habit of unecessary bouncing while fingerspelling.

See also

• Manual alphabet
• American Sign Language alphabet
• Two-handed manual alphabet