Finger spelling can be used to sign letters or words to help communicate with Deaf people or those with hearing impairments. It is particularly useful to use finger spelling to spell out complicated or key words. By doing this it is easer to contextualise the discussion you may be having and aid with lip reading. This booklet uses diagrams and descriptions to help you learn how to finger spell. The term Primary Hand refers to the hand which you usually use to write. The term Secondary Hand refers to the hand you don’t usually use to write. For example if you are right handed your right hand would be your primary hand and your left hand would be your secondary hand.
A
How to sign it: Open your secondary hand. Use the index finger on your primary hand to point to your thumb on your secondary hand.
Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. A is the first vowel and so point to the first digit.
B
On both hands put your fingers and thumbs together. Put both hands together so your fingers are touching. Way to remember: The sign should look like an uppercase B on it’s side.
C
Use your primary hand to make a curved shape. Way to remember: The sign should look like a backwards C.
D
Extend your index finger on your secondary hand. Hold your index finger and thumb of your primary hand in a curved position against the secondary index finger. Way to remember: The sign should look like an uppercase D.
E
Open your secondary hand. Use the index finger on your primary hand to point to your index finger on your secondary hand. Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. E is the second vowel and so point to the second digit.
F
Extend your index and middle fingers on both hands. Cross the fingers, with the primary fingers being placed on top.
Way to remember: There are two horizontal bars on an F, the fingers represent these two bars.
G
Make both hands into fists. Place base of primary hand on top of the secondary hand. Way to remember: The sign is made up of two tiers, like the lower case g.
H
Hold secondary hand open. Move the primary hand from the palm to passed the finger tips. Way to remember: The wiping action represents the joining of one point to another, like the horizontal bar on the uppercase H.
I
Hold secondary hand open. Use index finger on primary hand to point to middle finger on secondary hand. Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. I is the third vowel and so point to the third digit.
J
Hold secondary hand open. Use index finger and move it from the top of the middle finger on the secondary hand to the tip of the thumb. Way to remember: It should look like you are drawing an invisible J.
K
Extend your index finger of your secondary hand. Bend your index finger on your primary hand and hold the knuckle against your secondary index finger. Way to remember: The index fingers should resemble a K.
L
Hold your secondary hand open. Extend the index finger of your primary hand. Rest the finger on your secondary hand palm.
Way to remember: There is one vertical line used for the letter L, the index finger represents this.
M
Hold your secondary hand open. Extend the index, middle and ring fingers of your primary hand. Rest these finger on your secondary hand palm.
Way to remember: There are three vertical lines used for the lowercase m, these three fingers represent these.
N
Hold your secondary hand open. Extend the index and middle fingers of your primary hand. Rest these finger on your secondary hand palm.
Way to remember: There are two vertical lines used for the lowercase n, these two fingers represent these.
O
Hold your secondary hand open. Use index finger on primary hand to point to ring finger on secondary hand.
Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. O is the fourth vowel and so point to the fourth digit.
P
Extend index finger on secondary hand. Touch tips of index finger and thumb on primary hand. Hold these against tip of index finger on secondary hand. Way to remember: The sign should resemble the shape of the letter P.
Q
Hold your secondary handso that the index finger and thumb are touching and making a circle. Extend your index finger on your prime hand and rest it on your secondary thumb knuckle. Way to remember: Should resemble the shape of an uppercase Q.
R
Hold your secondary hand open. Slightly curve the index finger of your primary hand and rest on your secondary hand palm.
Way to remember: Should resemble the shape of a backwards lowercase r.
S
Hold secondary hand open and interlock both little fingers. Secondary hand should be held higher than primary hand.
Way to remember: The little fingers represent the two curves in the letter s which join together.
T
Hold your secondary hand open. Extend your index finger and touch the side of your secondary hand.
Way to remember: The secondary hand represents the top of an uppercase T and the index finger represents the vertical line of an uppercase T.
U
Hold your secondary hand open. Use index finger on primary hand to point to little finger on secondary hand.
Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. U is the fifth vowel and so point to the fifth digit.
V
Hold your secondary hand open. Extend index and middle fingers of primary hand. Separate them and rest them on your secondary hand’s palm.
Way to remember: The fingers should resemble a V shape.
W
Extend all fingers and separate slightly. Hold your hands together so your fingers interlock.
Way to remember: The point that the fingers form represents the middle point of the letter W.
X
Extend both of your index fingers. Cross them over with the primary hand on top.
Way to remember: The sign should resemble the letter X.
Y
Hold secondary hand open with your palm facing down, with your thumb slightly separated. Rest your index finger of your primary hand on the base of the thumb on your secondary hand.
Way to remember: The index fingers and the thumb of your secondary hand should resemble the letter Y.
Z
Hold secondary hand up right. Make a right angle using your primary hand. Rest the finger tips of your primary hand against the palm of your secondary hand.
Way to remember: The shape is the same as the letter Z reflected on it’s side.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ How to sign it: Open your secondary hand. Use the index finger on your primary hand to point to your thumb on your secondary hand.
Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. A is the first vowel and so point to the first digit.
How to sign it: Open your secondary hand. Use the index finger on your primary hand to point to your thumb on your secondary hand.
Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. A is the first vowel and so point to the first digit.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
How to sign it: Open your secondary hand. Use the index finger on your primary hand to point to your thumb on your secondary hand.
Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. A is the first vowel and so point to the first digit.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
How to sign it: Open your secondary hand. Use the index finger on your primary hand to point to your thumb on your secondary hand.
Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. A is the first vowel and so point to the first digit.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
How to sign it: Open your secondary hand. Use the index finger on your primary hand to point to your thumb on your secondary hand.
Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. A is the first vowel and so point to the first digit.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
How to sign it: Open your secondary hand. Use the index finger on your primary hand to point to your thumb on your secondary hand.
Way to remember: All the signs for the vowels involve pointing to one of your digits on your secondary hand. A is the first vowel and so point to the first digit.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ