Handshapes
Handshape Categories
Overview
Above you will find links to animated examples of commonly used handshapes organized by the first letter in the handshape spelling. We have also provided a link to a separate page for the ASL manual alphabet. For someone new to our writing system we recommend reviewing these links first, as their content may be more familiar to ASL signers. For the more advanced researcher, we have included a detailed discussion of the spelling rules for handshapes below. We include discussion of a more abstract hand configurations notation system that we refer to as handshape signatures, which we have developed to check for spelling consistency. We include at the bottom of this page a handshape selection tool, and a table of stem handshapes for researchers looking to describe less common hand configurations.
Handshape Spelling Rules
Our handshape spelling rules have been chosen so that familiar handshapes found in the ASL manual alphabet are spelled with the letters that they have traditionally represented in English writing. For example, the handshape used to articulate the English letter B is spelled as [be], the handshape used to articulate the letter S is spelled as [se], the handshape used to articulate the letter V is spelled as [ve], the handshape used to articulate the letter W is spelled as [we], and so on. However, for our spelling rules to be consistent with such a pattern, not every handshape of the manual alphabet can be spelled in such a recognizable way. For example, the handshape used to articulate the English letter U is spelled as [he], and the handshape used to articulate the letter H is spelled as [hue].
The first letter in a handshape spelling is unique and comes from the following nine initial configuration letters: [s, l, y, h, v, m, w, b, f]. Handshape spellings are categorized according to this first letter. The spelling of the rest of a handshape is then determined by its unique pattern. The spelling rules described on this page describe these patterns and how they are represented by the eight operation letters [s, l, y, h, v, m, w, b] that raise, lower, abduct, or adduct the fingers. A handshape spelling is completed with a pattern of eight flexing letters [a, e, c, u, o, x, r, f]. Two letters [x, r] curl and cross only the fingers. Two letters [c, u] curl and bend fingers and thumbs, and three letters [a, e, f] position only the thumb. The letter [o] describes contact of the thumb tip with the finger tips. The use of these letters has led to the rules for spelling handshapes, summarized as follows:
- The first character in a handshape must be one of the letters [s, l, y, h, v, m, w, b, f].
- A handshape spelling must contain two or more letters.
- A handshape spelling may not contain repeated letters.
- A handshape spelling must end in one of the letters [a, e, c, u, o].
- The letters [a, e, o] may only occur at the end of a handshape spelling.
- The letter [o] must follow one of the letters [c] or [u].
- The letters [c, u] must either occur at the end of a spelling OR precede one of the letters [a, e, o].
- The letters [x, r] must precede either the letter [a] or [e].
- If the letter [f] is not the first letter in a spelling, then it must immediately precede some combination of the letters [a, e, c, u, o, x, r].
Handshape spellings are understood in two parts. The first part starts with an initial configuration letter: [s, l, y, h, v, m, w, b, f]. These letters set the initial finger configuration, which is followed by the finger operation letters [s, l, y, h, v, m, w, b]. That following sequence of finger operation letters are understood as operations that fully extend, fully flex, abduct, or adduct the fingers. The second part consists of the flexing letters [f, a, e, c, u, o, x, r]. These are also understood as an ordered sequence of operations that flex the fingers and/or thumb, and position the thumb.
First Part
The first letter in the spelling of any handshape is the initial finger configuration letter. This is followed by a sequence of operation letters that change that initial configuration to represent the whole handshape.
Initial Configuration Letters
- S
- All fingers are fully flexed.
- L
- The index finger is extended and the other fingers are fully flexed.
- V
- The index and middle fingers are extended and abducted, the other fingers are fully flexed.
- W
- The index, middle, and ring fingers are extended and abducted, the pinky finger is fully flexed.
- Y
- The pinky finger is extended and the other fingers are fully flexed.
- H
- The index and middle fingers are extended and adducted to each other, the other fingers are fully flexed.
- M
- The index, middle, and ring fingers are extended and adducted to each other, the pinky finger is fully flexed.
- B
- All fingers are extended and adducted to each other.
- F
- All fingers are extended and abducted from each other.
Operation Letters
- S
- Lowers the index finger.
- L
- Extends the index finger and abducts the index finger from the middle finger, or fully flexes the middle finger if the index finger is extended and abducted.
- V
- Extends the middle finger and abducts the middle finger from the index finger, or fully flexes the ring finger if the middle finger is extended and abducted.
- W
- Extends the ring finger and abducts the ring finger from the middle finger, or fully flexes the pinky finger if the ring finger is extended and abducted.
- Y
- Extends the pinky finger and abducts the pinky finger from the ring finger, or fully flexes the ring finger if the ring finger is extended and abducted.
- H
- Extends the middle finger and adducts the middle finger to the index finger, or fully flexes the ring finger if the ring finger is extended and adducted.
- M
- Extends the ring finger and adducts the ring finger to the middle finger, or fully flexes the pinky finger if the ring finger is extended and adducted.
- B
- Extends the pinky finger and adducts the pinky finger to the ring finger.
Second Part
In the second part of the handshape spelling, the fingers and thumb are partially flexed and positioned separately. First, the fingers are partially flexed with [R X C U], then the thumb is positioned with [A E]. If the letters [A E] are absent at the end, the letters [C U] act to position the thumb as well. The letter [O] always must follow [C U] if there is one or more finger operation letter. Only two letters from [R X C U] can occur in a spelling. The first of [R X C U] to be spelled acts on the last fingers to be changed, while the second of [R X C U] to be spelled acts on the rest of the extended fingers.
Tracking Finger Changes
Finger changes are grouped according to whether or not those changes are full extensions, full flexions, abductions, or adductions. When one or more fingers change, focus is placed onto those fingers. The spelling of [R X C U] then acts on those fingers in focus. For example, the spelling [fl] starts with the [f] configuration, then lowers the middle finger, giving the middle finger focus. Whereas the spelling [flc] again starts with the [f] configuration, then partially flexes the middle finger and thumb, because the middle finger was the last to change from the [l] operation and was thereby given focus. As another example, the spelling [vys] starts in the [v] configuration, raises the pinky finger, then lowers the index finger, giving the index finger focus. The spelling [vysc] then partially flexes the index finger, because the index finger was the last to change and was given focus. As a contrasting pair of examples, consider the spelling [ylv], which starts in the [y] configuration, then raises the index finger and the middle finger, giving them both focus. The spelling [ylvc] then partially flexes both the middle and index fingers and not the pinky finger, because the middle and index fingers were the last to be changed through extension and were given focus. Tracking finger changes, and changes in focus, can be summarized in a set of five rules.
- Fingers changed by extension, flexion, abduction, or adduction receive focus.
- When a pair of fingers is adducted together, focus is placed only on that pair.
- When a finger is adducted to a group of fingers, focus is placed on that group.
- When a group of fingers is evenly abducted, focus is placed on all the fingers that were in the group.
- When a group of fingers is oddly abducted, focus is placed on the larger group of fingers remaining.
As mentioned previously, the second part of a handshape spelling may be typified by a unique sequence of flexing letters [f, a, e, c, u, o, x, r]. These are spelled in an ordered sequence, which represents the partial flexing of the fingers and/or the positioning of the thumb. The operation of each letter is described in the following list:
Flexing Letters
- R
- Crosses only pairs of fingers with focus.
- X
- Fully flexes the k2 and k3 knuckles of the finger(s) with focus.
- C
- Partially flexes the k2 and k3 knuckles of the finger(s) with focus and/or of the thumb.
- U
- Fully flexes only the k1 knuckle of the finger(s) with focus and/or (palm abduction) of the thumb.
- O
- Touches the pads (opposition) of the thumb with those of the finger(s) with focus.
- A
- Abducts the thumb from the palm (radial abduction).
- E
- Adducts the thumb to the palm (palmar adduction).
- F
- Abducts and fully extends the thumb (radial abduction).
Irregular Handshape Spellings
There are currently 14 handshapes that have an irregular spelling, and do not follow the spelling rules discussed above. We have chosen to conventionalize these irregular spellings because the handshapes they represent were either commonly used to spell many words and a shorter spelling was possible, or were inaccessible with our current spelling rules. These irregular spellings were chosen so that their forms do not complete for space in the lexicon.
There are four handshapes that would be in the [B] category, but we have assigned to these a shorter irregular spelling. The first is [bmco], which is instead spelled [mo]. The second is [bsco], which is instead spelled [bo]. The third is [bvco], which is instead spelled [lo], used in the ASL manual alphabet for the English letter D. The fourth is [byco], which is instead spelled [yo].
Likewise, there are another four handshapes that would be in the [F] category, but have been assigned a shorter irregular spelling. The first is [fbco], which is instead spelled [vo]. The second is [fhbco], which is instead spelled [ho]. The third is [fsco], which is instead spelled [fo], used in the ASL manual alphabet for the English letter F, or the ASL number G. The fourth is [fwco], which is instead spelled [wo], used in the ASL manual alphabet for the English letter W, or the ASL number 6.
There are two more handshapes that are in the [v] category, and have also been assigned a shorter irregular spelling. The first is [vlua], which is instead spelled [vla]. The second is [vlue], which is instead spelled [vle], used in the ASL manual alphabet for the English letter K.
Finally, the last four irregular spellings represent a set of handshapes that display a unique interaction between the adducted thumb and the fully flexed fingers not accessible through our handshape spelling rules. In the first is a handshape in which the thumb adducts to the radial edge of the index finger, and the index finger is flexed at the k2 and k3 knuckles while all of the fingers are fully flexed. To this handshape we assign the spelling [so], as seen at the start of the ASL word glossed as a little bit. In the second handshape, the thumb adducts between the index and middle fingers while all of the fingers are fully flexed. To this handshape we assign the spelling [sle], as seen in the ASL manual alphabet for the English letter T. In the third handshape, the thumb adducts between the middle and ring fingers while all of the fingers are fully flexed. To this handshape we assign the spelling [she], as seen in the ASL manual alphabet for the English letter N. The fourth handshape is one in which the thumb adducts between the ring finger and the pinky fingers while all of the fingers are fully flexed, and to this we assign the spelling [sme], as seen in the ASL manual alphabet for the English letter M.
Handshape Signatures
The handshape spelling system described above will systematically produce several different spellings for the same handshape. For example, the spelling [slhmba] represents the same handshape as [ba]. Because of this, we choose the shortest spelling, [ba], as the canonical form. Since it is desirable to represent each handshape with a unique spelling, we have chosen canonical forms for all the handshapes described by our writing system.
To determine these unique handshape spellings, we first represented each handshape with a unique handshape signature specific to that hand configuration. For a given handshape signature, the attributes of each digit of the hand are represented by an attribute character. The attribute character symbolizes the extension or flexion of the fingers or thumb, and whether two adjacent fingers are abducted from one another. We have chosen the following 14 characters for those attributes.
Signature Attribute Characters
- A
- Thumb is relaxed with or without radial abduction.
- E
- Thumb with palmar adduction.
- C
- Thumb partially flexed at k2 and k3.
- U
- Thumb with palmar abduction.
- F
- Thumb is fully extended with radial abduction.
- L
- Finger fully extended.
- C
- Finger partially flexed at k2 and k3.
- U
- Finger flexed at k1.
- X
- Finger fully flexed at k2 and k3.
- R
- Finger adducted and crossed with an adjacent R finger.
- S
- Finger fully flexed at k1, k2, and k3.
- |
- Abduction between two fingers.
- ^
- Radial adduction of the thumb against a finger or between two fingers.
- +
- Thumb to finger contact.
Each character symbolizes the attributes for one digit of the hand. To notate a whole handshape with these characters, five to eight characters are listed together in a string. They are notated from left to right, beginning with the thumb, followed by the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger. Our writing system does not represent abduction between fingers that are fully flexed or are of different attributes, and so we ignore signatures with adjacent pairs like [S|S], [S|L], or [L|C].
As a first example of a handshape signature, consider the handshape spelled [ba], which has a signature of [ALLLL]. Here the index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers are all extended with the thumb relaxed. Compare this to the handshape spelled [fa] with a signature of [AL|L|L|L], which has the thumb, index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers all extended and abducted from one another. As another example, consider the handshape spelled [hc] with a signature of [CCCSS], which has the thumb, index and middle fingers partially flexed, and the ring and pinky fingers fully flexed. Compare this to the handshape spelled [vc] with a signature of [CC|CSS], which has the thumb, index and middle fingers partially flexed now with the index and middle fingers abducted from each other, and the ring and pinky fingers fully flexed.
Stem Handshapes
There are hundreds of possible handshapes, and through our analysis we have found that within our writing system there are two main groups of stem handshapes, from which the rest of the handshapes accessible in our writing system may be derived. The first we call the fully extended group, which contains handshapes that have the fingers fully extended or fully flexed. The second we call the partially flexed group, which contains handshapes that have some or all the fingers partially flexed. Between the two groups we have recorded over 150 unique signatures, for which we have chosen one unique spelling as the canonical spelling for that handshape.
Handshapes within the fully extended group are distinct in that they only end in either [a] or [e] with no other flexion letters in the spelling. In other words, if a handshape ending in only [a] exists, then a handshape with the spelling ending only in [e] exists as well, and vice versa. For example, the handshape spelled [fla] has the unique signature [AL|S|L|L], and so the handshape spelled [fle] that has the unique signature [EL|S|L|L] is also possible. It is important to note that all handshapes in this group not beginning with [f] may have an [f] added before the final [a, e], which represents the thumb being fully extended, as described previously.
In the partially flexed group a similar trend occurs, but with more options. To start, if a handshape ending in only [c] exists, then a handshape with the same spelling ending in [u] must exist as well. All handshape spellings that end in [c] or [u] may also have one of the letters [a, e, o] added to the end to represent a different unique handshape (and signature). Handshape spellings that end in one of the letter pairs [ca, ce, ua, ue] may also be exchanged with either [xa] or [xe] to produce more unique handshapes (and signatures). Handshape spellings that end in one of the letter pairs [ca, ce, ua, ue], and that represent pairs of partially flexed, adducted, adjacent fingers may be changed with [ra re] to produce more unique handshapes (and signatures). Finally, all handshapes in this group not beginning with [f] may have an [f] added before the flexion letters to produce still more unique handshapes (and signatures).
An example of the partially flexed group is the handshape spelled [fhbc] with the signature [CLLCC]. This spelling can be change to [fhbu] with signature [ULLUU] to represent a different handshape. If [a] is then also added to the end of that second handshape, then the spelling becomes [fhbca] with the unique signature [ALLCC]. Furthermore, the [c] could be exchanged with an [x] to yield the new spelling [fhbxa] with the unique signature [ALLXX]. Still further, in the spelling [fhbca] there is a pair of partially flexed, adducted, adjacent fingers [CC], which allows for an [r] to be added to the spelling, resulting in [fhbra] with the unique signature [ALLRR] that describes the ring and pinky fingers crossed.
Irregular Handshapes
As previously mentioned (see Irregular Handshape Spelling), there are 14 handshapes used in our writing system that have an irregular spelling, and each of these possess a unique signature. Those irregular spellings ending in the letter [o] are shortened spellings having an alternate longer form. Specifically, the handshape [mo] has the signature CLLLC, [bo] has the signature CCLLL, [lo] has the signature CLSSS, and [yo] has the signature CCCCL. Likewise, the handshape [vo] has the signature CL|LCC, [ho] has the signature CLLCC, [fo] has the signature CCL|L|L, and [wo] has the signature CL|L|LC. There are two others both beginning with [vl] that have a shortened spelling. These are the handshapes [vla] with the signature ALUSS and [vle] with the signature ELUSS.
There are three other irregular spellings chosen to represent handshapes that were otherwise inaccessible in our writing system. These three describe a unique interaction between the adducted thumb and the fully flexed fingers. For only their signatures we use the caret [^] between fingers or between the thumb and index finger to describe that interaction. Specifically, the handshape spelled as [so] has the signature E^XSSS, the handshape spelled as [sle] has the signature ES^SSS, the handshape spelled as [she] has the signature ESS^SS, and the handshape spelled as [sme] has the signature ESSS^S.
Through our analysis of handshape signatures we have identified several other handshapes not previously mentioned that require an irregular spelling since these handshapes are not currently accessible with our spelling rules. For example, 13 of these irregular spellings require doubling of the flexion letters and produce stem spellings like [fbcc], but as of now we do not allow more than one occurrence of a given letter in a spelling. A remaining four irregular spellings may require the addition of other rules for theirs spellings to become regularized. Since these additional irregular handshapes have yet to be observed, we omit their use in the SLD Library and Main ASL Dictionary. In total, we have chosen to use 137 stem handshapes for recording sign language of the more than 150 handshape signatures that we have assigned spellings to. As lexicons change and grow, new data may warrant it necessary to allow these additional unused spellings later on.
Handshape Tables & Tools
The 137 unique stem handshape spellings contained in the fully extended group and the partially flexed group are listed in tables at the bottom of this page. For simplicity we spell those stem handshapes in the fully extended group with an [a] ending, and those stem handshapes in the partially flexed group with a [c] ending. The first and second columns list the fully extended group, while the third and fourth columns list the partially flexed group. In these tables, each handshape spelling (columns 1 and 3) appears next to its unique signature (columns 2 and 4). The 14 irregular handshapes are also included, listed at the bottom of their respective groups, and marked with an asterisk [*]. The spelling and signature of any handshape may be retrieved with our handshape selection tool below, which operates around the handshape spellings rules as well as the stem handshape tables. At the top of this page there is directory of handshape categories with hyperlinks to pages of animated illustrations for the most frequently observed handshapes in our Library, as well as a few others to help you better understand the spelling rules.
Handshape Selection Tool
Spelling
Stem
Signature
Status
Stem Handshape Tables
B stem handshapes
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| ba | ALLLL |
| bha | ALLSL |
| bla | ALSLL |
| bsa | ASLLL |
| bya | ALLL|L |
| bva | AL|LLL |
| bwa | ALL|LL |
| bsya | ASLL|L |
| bswa | ASL|LL |
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| bc | CCCCC |
| bhc | CLLCL |
| blc | CLCLL |
| bsc | CCLLL |
| byc | CCCCL |
| bvc | CLCCC |
| bwc | CCC|CC |
| bsyc | CSCCL |
| bwyc | CLLC|C |
| bwvc | CC|CLL |
| bswc | CSLCC |
| bsmc | CCLLC |
| bysc | CCLL|L |
| bwsc | CCL|LL |
| bsmhc | CCLCC |
| blsvc | CSCLL |
| *bo | CCLLL+ |
M stem handshapes
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| ma | ALLLS |
| msa | ASLLS |
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| myc | CLLLC |
| mc | CCCCS |
| mhc | CLLCS |
| msc | CCLLS |
| mvc | CLCCS |
| mlyc | CLSLC |
| msyc | CSLLC |
| mwyc | CLL|LC |
| mwvc | CC|CLS |
| msbc | CSCCC |
| *mo | CLLLC+ |
H stem handshapes
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| ha | ALLSS |
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| hyc | CLLSC |
| hc | CCCSS |
| *ho | CLLCC+ |
L stem handshapes
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| la | ALSSS |
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| lyc | CLSSC |
| lwc | CLSCS |
| lc | CCSSS |
| lwyc | CLSC|C |
| lvyc | CLCSC |
| lwvc | CLC|CS |
| lwsc | CCSLS |
| lvwyc | CLC|C|C |
| *lo | CLCCC+ |
S stem handshapes
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| sa | ASSSS |
| swa | ASSLS |
| *so | E^XSSS |
| *sle | ES^SSS |
| *she | ESS^SS |
| *sme | ESSS^S |
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| swc | CSSCS |
| svc | CSCSS |
| swyc | CSSC|C |
| svyc | CSCSC |
| slyc | CCSSC |
| swlc | CCSCS |
| swvc | CSC|CS |
| sywlc | CCSC|C |
| slvyc | CC|CSC |
| sywvc | CSC|C|C |
Y stem handshapes
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| yla | ALSSL |
| ya | ASSSL |
| ywa | ASSL|L |
| yva | ASLSL |
| ymba | ASSLL |
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| yc | CSSSC |
| ywc | CSSCL |
| yvc | CSCSL |
| ylc | CCSSL |
| ywlc | CCSCL |
| yvlc | CC|CSL |
| ywvc | CSC|CL |
| ymwc | CSSLC |
| ymbc | CSSCC |
| yvsc | CCLSL |
| ywsc | CCSL|L |
| ywvlc | CC|C|CL |
| ymblc | CCSLL |
| ywsmc | CCSLC |
| *yo | CCCCL+ |
V stem handshapes
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| va | AL|LSS |
| vsa | ASLSS |
| *vla [vlua] | ALUSS |
| *vle [vlue] | ELUSS |
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| vlc | CLCSS |
| vsc | CCLSS |
| vc | CC|CSS |
| vyc | CL|LSC |
| vmyc | CL|LLC |
| vsyc | CSLSC |
| vwyc | CL|LC|C |
| vylc | CLCSL |
| vswc | CSLCS |
| vsmc | CSCCS |
| vslyc | CCLSC |
| vswyc | CSLC|C |
| vswylc | CCLC|C |
| *vo | CL|LCC+ |
W stem handshapes
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| wla | ALSLS |
| wma | AL|LLS |
| wha | ALL|LS |
| wa | AL|L|LS |
| wsa | ASL|LS |
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| wlc | CLCLS |
| whc | CCCLS |
| wvc | CL|LCS |
| wsc | CCL|LS |
| wc | CC|C|CS |
| wsyc | CSL|LC |
| wsvc | CCLCS |
| wlsvc | CSCLS |
| wlsvyc | CSCLC |
| *wo | CL|L|LC+ |
F stem handshapes
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| fva | AL|LSL |
| fba | AL|L|LL |
| fa | AL|L|L|L |
| fma | AL|LL|L |
| fha | ALL|L|L |
| fla | ALSL|L |
| fsa | ASL|L|L |
| Spelling | Signature |
|---|---|
| fbc | CL|LCC |
| fwc | CL|L|LC |
| fmc | CLCCL |
| fhc | CCCL|L |
| flc | CLCL|L |
| fsc | CCL|L|L |
| fvc | CL|LCL |
| fc | CC|C|C|C |
| fsyc | CCLCL |
| fwlc | CLCLC |
| fhvc | CC|CL|L |
| fhbc | CLLCC |
| fbhc | CCCLL |
| fvhc | CCCSL |
| fmwc | CLC|CL |
| fswc | CCL|LC |
| flbc | CLSCC |
| flywc | CLSCL |
| fsvwc | CSLCL |
| flsvc | CSCL|L |
| flswc | CCCLC |
| *fo | CCL|L|L+ |
Glossary of Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| initial configuration letters | The first letter in a handshape spelling describing the hand configuration.
§Handshape Spelling Rules |
| operation letters | A letter describing whether a finger is to be raised, lowered, adducted, or abducted.
§Handshape Spelling Rules |
| flexing letters | A letter describing the configuration of the fingers and/or thumb
§Handshape Spelling Rules |
| signature | A sequence of attribute characters the describe the configuration of the fingers and thumb of a hand.
§Handshape Signatures |
| attribute character | A single character in a handshape signature that describes the configuration of the finger or thumb.
§Handshape Signatures |
| stem handshapes | The base handshape spelling from which all other hand shape spellings in that group may be derived.
§Stem Handshapes |
| fully extented group | The group of stem handshape spelling that end in either [a] or [e].
§Stem Handshapes |
| partially flexed extented group | The group of stem handshape spelling that end in either [c] or [u].
§Stem Handshapes |