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A set of hand shapes standing for the letters of a written alphabet.
Also known as: Manual alphabet, Sign language alphabet, Dactylology
A fingerspelling alphabet is a set of hand shapes standing for written letters, used within a sign language for names, technical terms and words with no established sign. The two best-known systems are not variants of one another: British fingerspelling is two-handed, using the palm of one hand as a surface, and American fingerspelling is one-handed. Fingerspelling is a component of a sign language rather than the language itself — signing a conversation letter by letter would be as slow as spelling a conversation aloud.
Stands for written letters within a sign language, and is used for names, technical terms and words with no established sign rather than for ordinary conversation.
Contexts: History, Public information
Differs fundamentally between the best-known systems: British fingerspelling is two-handed and uses one palm as a surface, while American fingerspelling is one-handed. They are not variants of each other and neither is a simplification of the other.
United Kingdom and United States · Contexts: History, Public information
Is a component of a sign language rather than the language itself, which is the commonest misunderstanding hearing people have: signing a conversation letter by letter would be about as fast as spelling it aloud.
Contexts: History, Public information
A hand or a pair of hands held in a defined shape, with fingers extended, folded or touching in an arrangement that distinguishes one letter from another.
Both belong to sign language provision.