BSL / British Sign Language tutorial.

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This tutorial is to show the standard two handed finger spelling alphabet used in British Sign Language. This is just a basic guide to the BSL finger spelt alphabet to help people, both Deaf and hearing understand. All photographs are taken from the perspective of somebody looking at the person signing. I chose to do it that way as this guide is aimed more at helping hearing people understand Deaf people, than the other way round. I myself am hearing, not Deaf, but I have studied the CACDP (Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People) courses "British Sign Language" and "Deaf Community and Culture", both at level 1 and passed both, but I am also planning to do more. The courses were done through Hastings College and the teacher was Davina Merricks, who is Deaf herself.

Please note that this tutorial is free for NON PROFIT use, if you want to use it for something profit making then please ask first and I will do you a very good deal involving a very low fee or maybe even just publicity or copies of what they have been used for. Sorry if I sound humpy, but I recently found somebody selling this on eBay! If you bought any tutorials containing any of these photos please contact the person who sold them to you and demand your money back as selling this without permission is a breach of copyright.

The letter A

With the tip of the index finger of your right hand touch the tip of the thumb on your left hand. Most BSL finger signs are based on the shape of the letter, but the exceptions are A, E, I, O and U as the vowels are done by pointing to the tips of the five fingers of the left hand.

The letter B

Put the tips of the thumbs and index fingers of both hands all together (other fingers are optional).

The letter C

Just hold your hand out as if you are trying to pick up a can.

The letter D

Place the index finger of your right hand touching the tip of the index finger on your left hand and then put the tip of your thumb of your right hand at the base of index finger on your left hand. If the tips of the fingers had been touching then the sign would be P.

The letter E

With the tip of the index finger of your right hand touch the tip of the index finger on your left hand.

The letter F

Put the top of the index and middle fingers of the right hand on to the base of the index and middle fingers of the back of the left hand.

The letter G

Clench both fists and place them on top of each other on their sides.

The letter H

This BSL sign is one of the only two that include movement. Place all four fingers of the right hand flat onto the palm of the left hand and then slide them down over the tips of the fingers of the left hand.

The letter I

With the tip of the index finger of your right hand touch the tip of the middle finger on your left hand.

The letter J

This BSL sign is the other one that includes movement. Place the tip of the index finger of the right hand to the tip of the middle finger on the left hand, then move the finger down almost the the wrist and then up to the tip of the thumb.

The letter K

Bend the index finger of the right hand and put the back of it up against the middle of the index finger on the left hand.

The letter L

Touch the tip of your index finger on your right hand FLAT on the palm on your left hand near the edge. Its the angle of the finger that is the difference between L and T.

The letter M

Place the index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand with the fingers together flat on the palm of the left hand.

The letter N

Place the index and middle finger of the right hand on the palm of the left hand with the fingers together. You must keep the fingers together or the letter would be V instead.

The letter O

With the tip of the index finger of your right hand touch the tip of the ring finger on your left hand.

The letter P

Put the index finger and thumb of your right together and touch the tip of of the index finger on your left hand. If the tips of the finger and thumb had been apart then the sign would be D.

The letter Q

Close the index finger and thumb of the left hand to make a circle and place the tip of the index finger from your right hand into the gap in the middle.

The letter R

Bend your index finger on you right hand and place it on the palm on your left hand with the finger tip pointing towards your wrist.

The letter S

Bend the little finger on the right hand and interlock it onto the little finger on the left hand.

The letter T

Touch the tip of your index finger on your right hand towards the side of your left hand. Its the position of the finger that is the difference between L and T.

The letter U

Touch the tip of the index finger from your right hand to the tip of the little finger from your left hand.

The letter V

Place the index and middle finger of the right hand on the palm of the left hand with the fingers spread. You must spread the fingers of the letter would be N instead.

The letter W

Put all the fingers of the right hand through the gaps between the fingers on the left hand. It must be all the fingers, if you only use the index fingers it becomes X.

The letter X

Put the index finger of the right hand across the index finger of the left hand. It must be just the index fingers, if you use all the index fingers it becomes W.

The letter Y

Place the tip of the index finger on your right hand at the join between the thumb and the rest of the left.

The letter Z

Put the fingers of the right hand together and put it on the left hand so it sticks up at a right angle.

I hope you have enjoyed this little taste of sign language and learnt a little bit of finger spelling. They may seem a little confusing at first, but the more you practise your finger spelling For information on courses on BSL please visit the CACDP (Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People) website.

UPDATE: The CACPD has now become Signature

All photos were taken by me ( Dean Thorpe ) and the hands belong to( Yolanda Thorpe ) my wife , I would like to thank her for posing for me.

If you want to find more sites about British Sign Language then Google is a good place to start looking, try searching for some of these:

british sign language
bsl tutorials
cacdp courses
bsl asl differences
finger spelling tutorials
british sign language courses
sign language tutorials
sign language information

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