American Sign Language (ASL) Alphabet
The ASL alphabet, also known as the American Manual Alphabet, is a system of handshapes used to fingerspell words in American Sign Language (ASL). It's a way to spell out letters using a specific hand configuration for each letter. ASL has its own unique grammar, which is different from English. (See American Sign Language above, for example.)
Spanish Sign Language Alphabet
Spanish Sign Language (Spanish: Lengua de Signos Española, LSE) is a sign language used mainly by deaf people in Spain and the people who live with them. It is native to Spain, except Catalonia and Valencia. Many countries that speak Spanish do not use Spanish Sign Language! (See Spanish Sign Language above, for example.)
Chinese Sign Language Alphabet
It is a one-handed manual alphabet similar to languages in the Francosign family such as the French and American manual alphabets. Learn Chinese sign language alphabets to facilitate communication with the deaf community. Discover the meanings of different symbols and improve your vocabulary of Chinese sign language. (See Chinese Sign Language above, for example.)
Mexican Sign Language Alphabet
Mexican Sign Language ('lengua de señas mexicana' or LSM) is different from Spanish, using different verbs and word order. It is a natural language that serves as the predominant language of the Deaf community in Mexico. Fingerspelling in LSM is mainly used for proper names, technical terms, and words without a standard sign. (See Mexican Sign Language above, for example.)
British Sign Language Alphabet
In British Sign Language (BSL), the alphabet is made up of letters formed using both hands. Using the BSL alphabet to spell out words is called fingerspelling. Learn the British Sign Language (BSL) Alphabet with Deaf Action. It's an easy way to learn some basic BSL and get used to the handshapes. Our fingerspelling alphabet charts are in right-handed and left-handed versions. (See British Sign Language above, for example.)
Australian Sign Language Alphabet
Auslan, or Australian Sign Language is a visual language that uses manual communication and gestures instead of sound to express thoughts and meaning. Auslan is the sign language used by the majority of the Australian Deaf community. It is the beautiful sign language used in Australia and is related to British Sign Language (BSL) and New Zealand Sign language. (See Australian Sign Language above, for example.)
Japanese Sign Language Alphabet
The Japanese Sign Language (JSL) Syllabary is based on the Japanese alphabet, which is made up of phonetic syllables. JSL is known as Nihon Shuwa in Japan. The hand shapes often resemble the strokes of Japanese characters or katakana symbols. While fingerspelling is used for names and borrowed words, JSL primarily relies on conceptual signs rather than spelling out words letter by letter.
French Sign Language Alphabet
French Sign Language (LSF), or Langue des Signes Française, is a visual language used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in France and French-speaking parts of Switzerland, with its own unique grammar and vocabulary, distinct from spoken French. FSL requires only one hand, and individuals can choose to use either their left or their right. There are a total of 26 signs, corresponding to the 26 letters of the alphabet. Presently, American Sign Language (ASL) and French Sign Language are very different, however there are still quite a few ASL signs that come directly from France.