ASL 1- Fingerspelling Part 1: Formation/Expressive Skills Tips 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.

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