Fingerspelling is a method of spelling words using hand movements. Fingerspelling is used in sign language to spell out names of people and places for which there is not a sign. Fingerspelling can also be used to spell words for signs that the signer does not know the sign for, or to clarify a sign that is not known by the person reading the signer. Fingerspelling signs are often also incorporated into other signs. e.g. the sign for 'gold' is the fingerspelt 'g' and then moving your hands away in a shimmering motion (see the online dictionary for a demonstration).

People often ask why not just use fingerspelling instead of sign language, that way you would only have to learn 26 signs, and more people would be able to understand. That is a good point, but it would be impractical just to use fingerspelling. Conversations would take hours, and it would be very hard to add feeling and expression to a conversation that was just using fingerspelling. Sign language is a hugely more efficient form of communication when compared with just using fingerspelling.

You can learn here on this website for free! Go back to the resources page and you will see various resources dedicated to fingerspelling. You can start off by reviewing the signs for each letter and then test your skills using the practice page. If you are in the UK do not confuse yourself by viewing the ASL fingerspelling page. ASL stands for American Sign Language and is a one handed alphabet. The ASL alphabet is different to the BSL (British) alphabet which uses two hands. I have included the one handed alphabet on this website because many sign language books will refer to it's hand shapes when describing signs.

When learning the BSL two handed alphabet try to remember that the vowels are your five fingers: