Letter and Number Confusions
Lesson 9: Letter and Number Confusions
At this time, it is also useful to review numbers 0 through 10 because they are frequently used in communication. the figure shows the hand shapes for these numbers. As with the Amanubet, the hand shapes for numbers are also handy in describing many ASL signs. Numbers beyond 10 and conventions for using numbers in ASL sentences as well as ordinal numbers (first, second…) and fractions are discussed in a later lesson
A brief description of each of the digits follows. The descriptions assume the use of the right hand; however, the left hand may also be employed as long as that hand is used consistently as the dominant hand for all signing. Although all digits described and pictured here are made with the palm facing out, digits 1 through 9 are also frequently signed with the palm facing in. Palm orientation for numerals 1 - 9 is a matter of personal preference.
0 (Zero): Hold out right O hand, palm facing out and bent elbow at side. Move hand forward slightly.
1 (One): Hold out right hand, palm facing out, index finger extended and pointing up, all other fingers folded over palm with bent thumb resting on knuckles, and bent elbow at the side.
2 (Two): The same hand shape as for 1, except both index and middle fingers are extended and pointed up.
3. (Three): The same hand shape as for 1 except middle and index fingers and thumb are extended and are pointed up.
4. (Four): The same hand shapes as for 1 except all four fingers are extended and pointed up with thumb resting on palm.
5. (Five): Hold out right hand. palm facing out, all fingers and thumb extended and pointing up, and bent elbow at side..
6. (Six): Hold out right hand, palm facing out, all fingers extended and pointing up, bent elbow at side, and thumb touching tip of little finger.
7. (Seven): Assume the same hand shape as for 6 except thumb touches tip of ring finger.
8. (Eight): Assume the same hand shape as for 6 except thumb touches tip of middle finger.
9. (Nine): Assume the same hand shape as for 6 except thumb touches tip of index finger.
10 (Ten): Hold out right A hand shape, palm facing left and bent elbow at side, and shake hand side to side twice from wrist
Because Amanubet uses only one hand to form 26 unique hand shapes for the 26 English letters, the hand shapes for some letters tend to be very similar. In addition, the hand shapes for certain digits closely resemble the hand shapes of certain letters. It is important to practice forming the letter and digit hand shapes accurately as well as to be able to distinguish these hand shapes quickly and accurately while receiving them. The following may cause confusion while forming and reading numbers and fingerspelled words.
If not careful, A may be mistaken for S and vice versa. Notice that A is formed by placing the unbent thumb against the side of the index finger as you form a fist. For S, the bent thumb is placed over the knuckles of the bent fingers.
Make sure that the fingers of B are held together. If there are spaces between fingers, the hand shape may be mistaken for digit 4.
Note that the fingers are also held together when forming the C letter shape. If the fingers are separated, it may look like a claw hand shape, causing confusion.
The D resembles closely the hand shape for digit 1. For D, the palm side of the thumb is placed on the nail of the middle finger. The palm side of the thumb lies on the knuckles of the bent fingers for 1.
The letter E may be sometimes confused for S. The tips of the bent fingers touch the thumb for E and, as stated before, the thumb is placed over the bent fingers to form a fist for letter S.
Some people have difficulty keeping the fingers together for F. A slight separation of fingers for this letter, however, should pose no problem for readers.
Note that the palm orientation is down for Q and forward facing for G. These two letters have the same hand shape in all other respects.
Make sure that the thumb of I is placed firmly over the knuckles of bent fingers. A protruding thumb may cause I to look like a Y.
Note that the hand shapes are identical for I and J. The difference between the two letters lies in the movement required for J.
Notice the position of the thumb between the index and middle fingers for K. The thumb lies across the knuckles of ring and little fingers for V.
The palm orientation is the principal cue for distinguishing K from P. Palm is oriented towards the feet for P and is facing out for K.
The location of the thumb distinguishes the M, N, and T. The thumb is between the little and ring fingers for M, between the ring and middle fingers for N and between the middle and index fingers for T.
The hand shapes are identical for digit zero and letter O as might be expected. We frequently substitute O for zero in calling out numbers – e.g., “two oh oh one” for “two zero zero one”.
The hand shapes are identical for number 2 and letter V. The communication context should help you know which concept is being expressed. If someone is telling you his/her phone number, you would obviously interpret this hand shape to mean “2.”
Digit 3 is formed with thumb, index, and middle fingers and not with the index, middle and ring fingers lest it might be mistaken for W.
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