Learn Sign Language

Sign language is rich, natural, visual-gestural-spatial language. It has been highly developed by fluent Signers in the past centuries. This is the 3rd most used language in the U.S. In this, manual communication, body language and lip patterns are used rather than sound to transmit the meaning. Hand shapes are combined, orientation and movements of the hands, arms and body and facial expressions to express correctly a speaker's thoughts. Sign languages generally develop in deaf communities. These can include interpreters, friends and families of deaf people and those who are deaf or hard of hearing themselves.

Learning sign language
A indicated by a closed fist with all fingers folded against the palm, thumb is straight and alongside the index finger.
B indicated by all fingers are straight and thumb is folded across palm.
C indicated by all fingers are partially folded, thumb is partially folded and hand is turned slightly to the left so viewer can see backward "C" shape formed by thumb and index finger.
D indicated by middle, ring and little fingers are partially folded, tip of thumb is touching tip of middle finger, index finger is straight and hand is turned slightly so viewer can see "d" shape formed by thumb, middle and index fingers.
E indicated by thumb is folded across in front of palm but not touching it, all fingers are partially folded with the tips of index, middle and ring fingers touching the thumb between the knuckle and the tip.
F indicated by tip of index finger is touching tip of thumb and middle, ring and little fingers are straight and slightly spread.
G indicated by middle, ring and little fingers are folded down across the palm, thumb is straight but pulled in so that it is in front of the index finger. The index finger is maintained in a straight position. It points forwards slightly in such a way that it is parallel to the thumb. The thumb and index finger do not touch each other. The entire hand is moved towards the left and turned slightly in such a way that the thumb and index finger are in the direction of the viewer and pointed at about 45 degrees.
H indicated by ring and little finger are folded down, thumb is folded over ring and little finger, index finger and middle finger are straight and together and the hand is tilted over so that the fingers are horizontal and pointing to the left.
I indicated by index, middle and ring fingers are folded down, thumb is folded across index, middle and ring fingers and little finger is straight.
J indicated by index, middle and ring fingers are folded down, thumb is folded across index, middle and ring fingers and little finger is straight. The hand is arranged so that little finger draws a "J" shape. The hand rotates towards the right.
K indicated by ring and little fingers are folded down and index and middle finger are straight and slightly spread. Thumb is kept straight and points towards the middle finger.
L indicated by middle, ring and little finger are folded down over palm and index finger and thumb are straight. Thumb sticks out sideways at an angle of 90 degrees to the index finger so as to form "L" shape.
M indicated by little finger is folded and thumb is folded across to touch little finger. Index, middle and ring fingers are folded so that they are over the thumb.
N indicated by little and ring finger are folded. Thumb is crossed across ring and little finger. Index finger and middle finger are placed downwards over the thumb.
O indicated by all fingers are partially folded. Thumb is folded and simultaneously the tip of thumb touches tip of index finger. The hand is turned slightly so viewer can see "O" shape formed by thumb and index finger.
P indicated by ring and little finger are folded down and index finger is straight. Middle finger is straight but pointing forward in such a way that it is at 90 degrees to index finger. Tip of thumb touches the middle of the middle finger. Hand is turned to the left and twisted over so that the index finger is horizontal and middle finger is pointing down. The middle finger and thumb form a "P" shape.
Q indicated by ring and little fingers are folded down across palm. The thumb is placed straight. However, it is pulled so that it is in front of the index finger. The index finger is straight and pointing forwards slightly in such a way that it is parallel to the thumb. The index finger and thumb do not touch each other. The middle finger is bent downwards and moves across towards the right of the thumb. The whole hand is turned towards the left and tilted so the thumb and index finger are towards the viewer and pointing nearly downwards.
R indicated by ring and little finger folded against the palm, held down by thumb, index and middle finger are straight and crossed, index finger in front.
S indicated by clenched fist and all fingers folded tightly into palm. Thumb is placed across the index and middle fingers.
T indicated by middle, ring and little fingers folded down across palm. Thumb is crossed across the middle finger. Index finger is placed above the thumb.
U indicated by ring and little finger folded against the palm and held down by thumb, index and middle finger are straight and together.
V indicated by ring and little finger folded against the palm, held down by thumb, index and middle finger are straight and spread to form a "V" shape.
W indicated by tip of little finger touching tip of thumb. Index, middle and ring fingers are maintanied in a straight position and slightly spread.
X indicated by middle, ring and little fingers folded down. Index finger is kept bent at both the joints. Thumb is pulled inwards and slightly bent near the joint. The hand is turned to the left so thumb and index finger can be seen.
Y indicated by index, middle and ring fingers folded against palm. Little finger and thumb are kept straight and widespread in both directions.
Z indicated by middle, ring and little fingers folded. Thumb is kept overlapped across middle and ring fingers. The index finger is maintained in a straight position. The hand is moved in such a way that the tip of index finger makes a "Z" shape.

Appreciation of communication

• This is a natural, rich, 4-dimensional, unique, graceful and beautiful language.
• It is a good efficient gestural communication for professional civic servants like scuba drivers, police officers, firefighters and other professionals.
• It becomes possible to communicate with animals like apes, dogs and others or entertain the guests with intelligent animals comprehension of language.
• The communication becomes wholistic.
• It becomes possible to communicate with a baby before they can speak and boost intelligent advance.
• Being a bilingual or trilingual enhances the cognitive processes.
• It becomes possible to efficiently talk to other people with special needs like autism or communication problems or use signs when temporarily unable to vocally speak in hospitals.
• It is possible to ensure that nobody can overhear through doors or whisper in signs in a library or church or have lively talk in noisy bars and discos.

Benefits

• When a deaf student has a strong foundation in American Sign Language, the capacity to develop English literacy skills improves.
• The child has a sense of cultural identity that enables them to make a good relationship with other individuals.
• It is possible for many deaf students to be literate in both languages and they need to work with knowledgeable and skilled professionals.
• There is a greater self-esteem and curiosity of the world. Both of these would enrich the student academically and socially.

American manual alphabet
The American manual alphabet increases the vocabulary of American Sign Language when spelling individual letters of a word is the preferred or only option like with proper names or the titles of works. Letters have to be signed with the dominant hand and in a majority of cases with palm facing the viewer. The ASL alphabet is based on an old Spanish manual alphabet which originates atleast in the seventeenth century.