Finger spelling is a way to spell out words letter by letter using handshapes. It's not a form of sign language itself, but rather a tool used within sign language.
Here's how it works:
1. Each letter of the alphabet has a unique handshape.
2. You form the handshape for each letter and move your hand in a specific direction. This direction varies depending on the letter and the context of the sentence.
3. You spell out the word letter by letter, pausing slightly between each letter.
It's important to remember that:
* Finger spelling is not used for every word. Sign languages have signs for common words and concepts, so finger spelling is primarily used for proper nouns, technical terms, or words that don't have a sign.
* Different sign languages use different finger spelling systems. American Sign Language (ASL) has a different finger spelling system than British Sign Language (BSL) or other sign languages.
Let me know if you have any other questions about sign language or finger spelling!