This tape by no means will teach you all of the signs you will need to know. That is why it is very important to learn how to finger spell words until you learn the sign for that word. You will want to ask the deaf person, ¡§What¡¦s the sign for¡K?¡¨ Then you will finger spell the word you need to know. Let me show you how we start with that. Of course, it¡¦s with the manual alphabet.
¡§A¡¨ Your thumb is to the side of your fingers, not in front, but to the side. Make sure your hand shape is correct. Because if not, you are saying the wrong thing or spelling the wrong thing.
¡§B¡¨ My thumb is in front. My fingers are together, they are not spread apart.
¡§C¡¨ Everything is curved around.
¡§D¡¨ My index finger is pointed up. My other fingers are curved down and touching my thumb with my middle finger.
¡§E¡¨ Some people rest their fingers on the thumb in front, some separate it. It doesn¡¦t matter.
¡§F¡¨ The index and the thumb are touching. The other fingers are up.
¡§G¡¨ Take the thumb and the index forward.
¡§H¡¨ Index and middle figner forward
¡§I¡¨ The thumb goes in front. The baby finger is up.
¡§J¡¨ Draw the J.
¡§K¡¨ My thumb is in between my middle finger and my index finger.
¡§L¡¨ You have learned this in another sign. Index up, thumb out.
¡§M¡¨ You have three humps. Your thumb is underneath.
¡§N¡¨ Two humps. Thumb is still underneath.
¡§O¡¨
¡§P¡¨ The P is just like a K but it¡¦s pointing down.
¡§Q¡¨ Just like a G but pointing down.
¡§R¡¨ You just cross your index and your middle.
¡§S¡¨ The thumb goes forward. It is not like the A to the side. Make sure you remember that. S is in front of the thumb.
¡§T¡¨ Thumb in between the index and middle.
¡§U¡¨ The fingers are together.
¡§V¡¨ Spread them apart.
¡§W¡¨ Which is my hardest sign. I can hardly hold my baby finger down! Three up.
¡§X¡¨ You crook it.
¡§Y¡¨ Thumb and baby finger.
¡§Z¡¨ Draw the Z out.
Now that you¡¦ve learned the manual alphabet, review this again and again. Spell slowly. This is the sign for ¡§finger spelling.¡¨ You will do that when you want to show a word. You will finger spell a word. You will use the manual alphabet all of the time. Practice it whenever you can. I do it when I¡¦m riding in the car, when I¡¦m talking on the telephone, anytime that I have time, I finger spell.
