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ASL

ASL 1-Fingerspelling Part 1: Formation/Expressive SkillsTips and Tricks!

Expressive/Formation and Receptive Patterns

Adapted from: ABC-123: Fingerspelling and Numbers in ASL- Mendoza

Please have a Blue Master ASL! book at your seat!

Today: *10 minutes to review for tomorrow’s test (see video); *Fingerspelling Part 1

Fingerspelling

• ASL and Interpreter programs require entire semester length courses in fingerspelling

• This one day presentation will summarize the most important tips and tricks

• Most students who apply these tools will find their expressive/formation and receptive skills improved by at least 80%!

Generally used in specific instance

• First, last, and middle names• Names of places (cities, states, stores)• Titles of movies and books• Certain foods• For clarification when one sign has several

meanings• Technical Terms• Higher Register of Vocab

Expressive Pre-Quiz

• 1. True or False: If you make a mistake, wave your hand in the air to erase it.

• 2. T/F: When reading fingerspelling, think of the chunks of sounds instead of individual letters (e.g. ST-AN)

• 3. T/F: When listing several names, use AND.• 4. When fingerspelling, “typewriter” (move left

to right) in space• 5. When fingerspelling a date such as October

10th, be sure to include the –th

Fingerspelling

In an informal conversation among deaf people, fingerspelling constitutes less than 15% of the conversation.

WHEN DO WE FINGERSPELL IN ASL?

• Proper Nouns (person, place, thing, titles)• Abbreviations, acronyms• Emphasis, clarification• Words with no signs: These can include

English words with no established sign, technical vocabulary, or words for new inventions – Note: before just fingerspelling the word, first try

to sign the concept- use circumlocution- “circle talk”- e.g. describe “pizza” (if you do not know the word) as “the circle food, cut into slices, eat, red sauce, cheese…”

– In some cases (such as interpreting), fingerspelling the exact English word is important. Other times, the concept is all that matters.

Mouthing in Fingerspelling

• Fingerspelled words represent English words, and the word spelled is commonly mouthed.

• In fingerspelling: mouth the whole word, not individual letters.

Formation: Correct Positioning

• Hold your dominant hand relaxed, approximately between the chin and shoulder level

• Comfortable position; hand is not stiff• Palm orientation out most of the time, or slightly

turned toward non-dominant side• Don’t bounce; keep “quiet” visually• When you make a mistake, do not “erase” in space-

just start over• Do not “typewriter” when you fingerspell• Try it now: fingerspell your favorite sport, your favorite

food, and the title of your favorite movie

Speed or Clarity?

• Since clear communication is the goal, clarity is more important than speed.

• Other Tips:• Only a brief pause between first and last names• Do not break words into syllables as you

fingerspell• When fingerspelling several names, use “deixis”

(pointing or eye gaze), do not use “and”

Posessive ‘s’

• ASL generally avoids signing in this manner

• If it is imperative, use the ‘s’ in a twisting motion

• e.g. Mary’s house

Double letters:

• The rules for double letters vary depending on the position in the word.

• Typically, double letters repeat at the beginning (Aaron) and in the middle of the word (Miller) and move laterally at the end of the word (Mitchell).

Common Errors in Fingerspelling

• P. 5 Zinza (Blue Master ASL!)- Double letters movements:

• Beginning or middle: A,D,E,F,M, N,O,P,S, and T- do not move your hand, but make a quick repetition of the letter e.g. Brittany

• Beginning or Middle: B,C,G,K,L,P,R,U, and X- double movement, as if letters are on “top” of each other e.g. Molly

• Ending: move your hand slightly to the right. This is the only time you will move your hand!

• Research is still ongoing…

Activity

• Make sure you know how to sign at least the first letter of your first name

Activity

• Everyone stand up

• Remember: watch the sign….voices off!

Activity

• Using fingerspelling only arrange yourselves alphabetically in a line using your first name