| ASL or the American Sign Language Alphabet is | | | | dragging the fingers a bit, to the side, from its initial |
| contained in the American manual alphabet which | | | | position. However there are people who tend to |
| augments the entire vocabulary of the American Sign | | | | bounce between almost every letter that they use |
| Language, when only spelling letters of a word | | | | and in such cases it becomes exceedingly difficult to |
| individually is preferred or is the only option. This | | | | understand or watch. |
| situation arises when names of titles of works are | | | | People who find it difficult to keep their hands still |
| used. The letters are usually signed with the dominant | | | | while finger spelling will find it helpful to hold the wrist |
| hand with the palm facing the viewer. | | | | of the dominant hand which is use for finger spelling |
| The American Sign Language alphabet's basis is the | | | | with the free hand to ensure no movement of the |
| Old Spanish Manual alphabet whose existence is | | | | wrist. |
| traced back to the seventeenth century. This sign | | | | A few hours or days of practice this way and you'll |
| language is also used in Germany, Norway, Finland, | | | | be able to overcome the habit of bouncing every |
| and Austria etc with a few modifications. Letters like | | | | letter while finger spelling. Rhythm, movement and |
| T, A, O, U, S etc differ from the original American | | | | speed are the three most important aspects of |
| Sign Language alphabet. While using finger spelling, the | | | | finger spelling and one will have to master this in |
| hand is supposed to remain in place or can drift a little | | | | order to master the art of finger spelling. Firstly your |
| away from the midline like a text is being written in | | | | hand will have to be at shoulder height while finger |
| thin air. If a long sentence is involved there must be | | | | spelling and should be very steady (that is it should |
| a short pause between words or terms. | | | | not bounce off with every letter). |
| Generally long nails or excessive jewellery can prove | | | | The hand must stay in one place and only the shape |
| to be distracting hence people usually avoid wearing | | | | of the hand must change. And as common sense has |
| them. When acronyms are to be spelt (such as | | | | it, slow clear finger spelling is a better way of |
| NASA or USA) the letters are moved along a small | | | | communicating rather than fast finger spelling. Initially, |
| circle to show that they must not be read together | | | | Speed is not what one should concentrate on. The |
| as a word. The hand is not supposed to bounce too | | | | hand shapes must be formed well or else it will be |
| much while finger spelling except when the same | | | | difficult for even the natives to read it. Even if it is |
| alphabet is repeated. | | | | done at a slow pace the entire word should be spelt |
| For instance if there is a word involving two t's, like in | | | | at the same pace and then there must a brief pause |
| the word letter then it can be shown by bouncing or | | | | before getting on to the next. |