The ABCs of ASL Alphabets: Know The American Sign Language

The ABCs of ASL Alphabets: Know The American Sign Language
3 min read
23 January 2023

ASL is a sign language that is generally used by deaf, hard of hearing (DHH), and young children around the world. It is unique, fun, and a great solution to communicating or starting a career in ASL.

ASL has its grammar, vocabulary, alphabet, and characters. Being a visual language, ASL is mainly about eye movement, facial expressions, and hand gestures.

Here we will learn about the American Manual Alphabet, which is the ABC of Sign Language.

About the ASL Alphabet

Communication in ASL is done by finger spelling and supported by body language – mainly by facial expressions. It differs from English in terms of grammar and phonology and from other sign languages (prevalent across the world) in gestures and sign language characters.

The ASL alphabet is an excellent means of communication with its variations, nuances, movement, rhythms, alphabet, slang, and pronunciation.

What Do Sign Language Alphabets, Letters, and Numbers Look Like in ASL?

ASL has 26 characters and 10 numeric fingerprints. Once you have a clear understanding of letters and numbers, you can start using finger spellings to learn ASL grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, pronunciation, and more to advance your understanding.

ASL is not uniform for everyone in the United States and can differ between two individuals in the same region. In this way, ASL conceptually behaves like handwriting and may contain regional dialect and script variations, as well as unique representations of the ABC signs.

Tips for Using ASL

ASL is well-equipped with its very own grammar and phonetics. A professional study like an ASL Level 2 course is recommended to learn about the ABCs of ASL language.

Here are some tips that can come in handy:

  • Don’t get too close to the person while using sign language. You won’t want to watch a movie if the screen moves too close to you.
  • Think ahead, communicate, and avoid spontaneity for an easy and consistent flow of sign language.
  • Don’t move your hand to the side, as it will get in the way. Face your palm in the direction of the other person you want to communicate with so that you can position your gestures correctly.
  • Do a lot of self-study, practice, and take professional online classes to learn American sign language online.

Have Fun While Learning the ASL Alphabet

Don’t make learning the ASL alphabet taxing for yourself. Enjoy the process, use available resources on the web, and indulge in the following:

  • Gamification like post-lesson quizzes and games to check
  • Visuals help to identify and imitate hand gestures
  • Storytelling using memory and tools makes learning easy and improves thinking skills. 
  • Watch ASL videos and try to imitate or impersonate the interpreter to improve your understanding of ABC sign language.

Conclusion

Enrolling in a basic course in American sign language 2nd edition is the best way to proceed with learning ABC of the ASL language. The above tips can lead you to a well-informed starting point for those wondering about ASL and trying to learn the basics of ASL.

Begin today and experiment based on your pace, time, convenience, and needs.

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Ron Smith 0
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