Lesson on American Sign Language Alphabet (ABC, ASL, fingerspelling)

[tinkjonas221]

thank you for posting this video. i am starting to learn how to sign because of the show switched at birth. where one of the girls is deaf on the show. thank you also for posting your website. i am going to look into it and see if it would work for me

[LocoCocoGirl]

Thank you so much!! I'm right handed , and I find it easier to do with my left hand , does that matter whenever I sign?

[benjamin23abby]

love it !!!

[yeussean]

I'm enjoying learning ASL, thank you! Would you be interested in learning Plains Indian Sign Language? It was used by the different tribes on the Great Plains to communicate and I had thought it could become the lingua franca for the deaf, the hearing, and international people to communicate with since it is even more simple to learn than American Sign Language.

[manganaps]

I truly enjoyed this video. I gained a lot of insight into the beginning of signing. I like the fact that it was done without music. I was able to concentrate on all the importance of the language. I give this a five star. Excellent job.

[AnnaLanay]

If I were signing J with my left hand, would I sign it the way it's written or do it a if it's backwards?

[melinavarro92243]

yaaay i want to learn morre :) i love sign language :)

[mizsandrah]

Just got home from my first ASL class and boy was I ever overwhelmed!  I'm glad there are are many helpful Vids such as this one . Thanks!!!!

[Genesis10425]

now can we use just this alphabet alone to speak to deaf people or is just using other gestures just a faster way for them to understand? ive awlays wondered that, no offence or anything

[AkiriWerewolfattacks]

@Genesis10425 The 'word-signs' would be faster. If you just fingerspelled everything, some people, including myself, might miss a few letters and without pauses or enough time to process what you just said, we may not fully understand. But there are a few words that don't have signs, and that is where the fingerspelling comes in.

[dayday0is0me]

you seemed to have not paid attention to the fact that i wrote ENGLISH SPEAKING countries :D :D England has the same alphabet as America does :) :) why do they have different signs ??

[BYUFanatic]

@dayday0is0me Actually, I did pay attention to the fact that you said "English speaking." :-) Again, different countries, therefore different languages. To explain the various backgrounds of each would be a lengthy discussion. (For example, ASL is a combination of Old French Sign Language, Martha's Vineyard Sign Language, and various "home signs.") The sign languages from each of these countries are separate from the spoken languages used. Different grammar, syntax, etc.

[dayday0is0me]

so let me get this straight .... there's American sign language , British sign language ,Irish sign language which one am i supposed to learn this is really confusing :( :( shouldn't all English speaking countries use the same sign language?? :(

[BYUFanatic]

@dayday0is0me Probably for the same reason we have English, French, Spanish, German, etc.... :) People from different countries don't necessarily speak the same language.

[theOreoQueen]

Are you supposed to use your left hand or does it matter because I'm right handed and I do everything with my right hand so if it specifically needs to be your left hand, please let me know.

[BYUFanatic]

@theOreoQueen You use your "dominant" hand. So if you're right-handed, use your right hand.

[missBVB1]

Very helpful. I am a beginner, and this is super easy to learn from. My neighbor is deaf, and I always seem to mess something up when I talk to him, so thanks for the help! Even if it's just the alphabet, I can still get something right! :D

[BYUFanatic]

@missBVB1 Glad to help! :)

[LockerNo333]

Fantastic! Wonderfully conveyed and easy to understand for beginners like myself

[BYUFanatic]

@LockerNo333 Thank you! Glad you like it.

[dusntmatter1]

very helpful. facial expressions communicate the lessons perfectly. however it's a bit fast. I would appreciate more repitition.

[GrieverOath]

@dusntmatter1 Well, with it being a video, you can pause and replay.

[BYUFanatic]

@dusntmatter1 You're welcome to pause it as needed and to replay it as often as you want. :)

[acdiabloc]

hahaha, i know the purpose of the video.....i was trolling =P but great vid

[acdiabloc]

OH NOES!!! what happened to da sounds =O

[BYUFanatic]

@acdiabloc Why would there be sound?

[oganmy9]

HA! Well spoken Rob! This video I can learn from!

[BYUFanatic]

@oganmy9 Thanks! Glad you like it.

[symmylynn]

thanks so much! I watch whatthebuck and he signs sometimes and i wanted to learn the alphabet too :)

[BYUFanatic]

@symmylynn You're very welcome. :)

[dauchshundlover1]

Your video was very interesting and informational. I have looked online for ASL how to videos...I am so very happy that I found yours and your web-site!! Thank you so much!

[BYUFanatic]

@dauchshundlover1 glad you like it! 

[GilligansDen]

This was great. Thank you.



[BYUFanatic]

@GilligansDen You're welcome!

[Kroatosai47]

Very professional, dignified, and clear!

[BYUFanatic]

@Kroatosai47 Thank you. I appreciate the compliments.

[RedCat0006]

Thank you! I am teaching my daughter baby sign language, and thought it would be a good opportunity to teach her the sign alphabet too. we are both learning! :)

[BYUFanatic]

@RedCat0006 That's great you and your daughter are learning to sign. Keep it up!

[R7RoadRunner]

I'm a little confused about 'Z' If I'm using my right hand do I mirror you or do I trace it the way I would if I was looking at a Z?

[BYUFanatic]

@R7RoadRunner Just make a "Z" in the air (from your perspective). The viewer will always be responsible for "flipping it" in their mind.

[TonganPower]

Thank you, this was very helpful. I didnt realize i was learning it the wrong way until i watched this video. thanks.

[BYUFanatic]

@TonganPower Glad to help fix it so you sign them correctly. 

[TheShackler07]

this video is really helping me out in my signing! :)

[BYUFanatic]

@TheShackler07 Yay! Glad to help

[alzorama]

Thank you for posting this video. I needed to see more than just a flat photo or drawing to see how the fingers should rest.

Plus, showing how the fingers should NOT rest was so very helpful along with the other details. Very, very explanatory. Thank you so much!

[BYUFanatic]

@alzorama Yep, reading it from a book is very hard. That's why I've created the videos. Glad to help!

[Magdowicz11]

Amazing video! Im just starting to learn ASL and I find this video very helpful! Thank you!

[BYUFanatic]

@Magdowicz11 Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you like it. *smile* I'm excited for ya to be learning ASL!

[Magdowicz11]

@BYUFanatic Im a nursing student and I thought knowing ASL would definitely be something that could help me in the future. I was looking for videos on youtube and I found your video. I went to your website and I am even more excited now. Im looking forward to taking your online course! Thank you so much!

[BYUFanatic]

@Magdowicz11 ASL is definitely something that can help you in the medical profession. Glad you found my website. Hope you have fun with it!

[ShyOnTheRhy]

I just like the fact that you exclude talking to teach sign language. Unlike other youtube videos I have found. It allows me to really learn not to rely on hearing words and to focus on watching and learning. Thanks!

[SHAG18]

Thank you. thank you. thank you.

[Dhesyca]

So, should I be using my right or left hand? I normally use my right hand since I'm right handed, but...all your videos show you using your left. Otherwise, very educational and enjoyable! Thanks :)

[mikartmilo]

aww ehis is clever video but I need more practice I learned BSL but this is harder.

[flipsk8r3297]

this took so long to watch..... but it was helpful!

[tacolover001]

Outstanding! Thanks sooo much! I've wanted to know the basics of sign language for years because there's a kid at my skool who is hearing impared. Thanks again!!!

[Bananas0695]

thanks!!

[YourChinaGirL]

I love your videos! You're a GREAT teacher and You have a great sense of humor! You make it easy and clear for understanding. 5STARS

[Xx7dannyboy7xX]

this is awsome great job!

[hearingjourney]

you this in the classroom! helped explain thank you

[jadorehappiness]

great teacher, your facials are very easy to read!

[BYUFanatic]

@jadorehappiness Thank you very kindly. *smile* Glad you like.

[kaye33b]

excellent teacher

[BYUFanatic]

@kaye33b Thank you very much! 

[margaguda]

great video..

[BYUFanatic]

@margaguda Thanks! :-)

[CandyCanesCheats]

thanks i needed that for my asl class!

[BYUFanatic]

@CandyCanesCheats You are very welcome. *smile*

[CandyCanesCheats]

@BYUFanatic someone hacked my account, I have never watched this video before, but thanks any ways! :D

[nadiazul25]

Hi! I liked this video a lot. I am teaching my baby to communicate with hands, but I am not sure if I should teach baby signing or start with ASL I think I have read they are different, although they share similiraties ? I have also other question in the alphabet. THe letter "G" is like the letter "Q" but in the position as in "H"? and the letter "P" is like the letter "K" but facing down? THanks

[BYUFanatic]

@nadiazul25 Hi! Glad you like the video. *smile* What you want to teach your baby depends on what your goals are. Baby signs are a way to create basic communication bridges until they are able to vocalize. ASL is an actual language that is as rich and diverse as any other language and can serve well past the baby sign stage. As for your hand placement questions - Yes, the G/Q and P/K handshapes are the same, just with different hand placements as you described. Good luck with the learning!

[fur8ar]

@BYUFanatic Actually, I was always wondering about G/Q and K/P, Now I'm 100 percent sure. Thanks for this question and this answer!

[BYUFanatic]

@fur8ar You're very welcome. *smile*

[aken716]

excellent video thank you!

[BYUFanatic]

@aken716 You are MOST welcome! :)

[musicalsoul08]

Thanks :)

I've always wanted to learn ASL so thanks for posting this :D

[BYUFanatic]

@musicalsoul08 Glad you're learning ASL! Thanks for the compliment!

[evrythingelswastaken]

excellent job! you even go through the little details that i'm sure are important to deaf people

[BYUFanatic]

@evrythingelswastaken Thank you very much. And yes, the details are important! They're just like using correct capitalization and punctuation in English.

[BYUFanatic]

@evrythingelswastaken Thank you very much. And yes, the details are important! They're just like using correct capitalization and punctuation in English.

[peceoutdude16]

excellent! Its so easy to pick up! Better then any book out there. THank YOU!!

[BYUFanatic]

@peceoutdude16 Glad you like! *smile* Good videos always beat a book when it comes to visual languages such as ASL. Keep on learning!

[outcastedroguee]

i'm taking asl and my friends always want to learn stuff from me and i'm not around all the time so i always sent them your vids. you do a great job at explaining what to do and what not to do!

[BYUFanatic]

@outcastedroguee Glad you're learning ASL. Thanks for sending my videos to your friends. I appreciate the compliment!

[BYUFanatic]

@yobtube2000 Glad you like the video! *smile* To answer your question - ASL and BSL are unrelated. The languages are not similar. ASL has a one-handed alphabet while BSL has a two-handed alphabet. The language that most closely resembles ASL would be OFSL (Old French Sign Language) since a lot of the early ASL was influenced by Laurent Clerc. He came from France to help Thomas Gallaudet set up a Deaf school in America.

[Wawagirl17]

Oooh, these are really fun and helpful!

I want to be a teacher no matter what kind of job I get, but my ultimate goal is to someday teach deaf/blind/other physically disabled children and adults. So, ASL is a class I'm planning to take future semesters.

But, I figured it'd be a lot easier to be familiar with it before jumping right into a class, so I had been looking for something like this on YT for awhile now. Thanks for making it nice for beginners!

[BYUFanatic]

@Wawagirl17 Glad you find the videos helpfu! *smile* Good luck on your goal to become a teacher. I think that's GREAT!

[wellherestoy]

I am an ESL teacher for Fourth Grade, this lesson has being VERY useful in my class all my students learned their ABC's really fast!!!! Thank you so much I'll give you 10 STARS : D

[BYUFanatic]

@wellherestoy Woo woo! TEN stars? I'm flattered. *smile* Thank you very much. Glad your kids were able to learn the ABC's quickly. Now give them the 3- and 4-letter word videos and see if they can catch the words. Ha ha.

[armymedic98]

this is awesome sometimes i wish i was deaf

[BYUFanatic]

@armymedic98 Glad you enjoyed it. *smile* You're not the first hearing person I've had tell me that they wish they were Deaf. Ha.

[polloandducky]

thank you very much this is awesome, i had to learn this for world history class for some reason, but now it should be simple

again thank you

[BYUFanatic]

@polloandducky You're very welcome. :)

[Millomx]

I love your videos, plus you are very funny. kind of makes my day every time I watch you. ;)

[BYUFanatic]

@Millomx Awwww. Thanks! Glad you like the videos. *smile*

[Millomx]

@BYUFanatic I just started to watch your lessons on your website. Very interesting and useful. your face expressions tell sometimes even more than your signs. haha.

Good job tough, I love it.

[BYUFanatic]

@Millomx You've signed up on the webite? That's great! Lots of good stuff there with more to come. Facial expressions are an actual part of the language, so you'll see me using them all throughout the videos. Keep it up and good luck learning!

[AdrianNmi]

now i know them right ;)

[BYUFanatic]

@AdrianNmi Yay! Glad you got them right now. :)

[n4di4133]

do you have to use your left? is that important?

[BYUFanatic]

@n4di4133 Hi! I'm left-handed, so that's my "dominant" hand. If you're right-handed, then use your right for fingerspelling.

[demonkyo0423]

This was an excellent video. I really appreciated being corrected whenever I was doing a letter incorrectly otherwise I would have always done it wrong after learning it wrong. Kudos!!

[BYUFanatic]

@demonkyo0423 Thanks for the compliments. *smile* Glad you enjoy the video.

[KandNrockinBFFS]

Thatwas very helpful thanx

[BYUFanatic]

@KandNrockinBFFS You are very welcome! *smile*

[triciawyrosdick]

Very helpful and thorough in his teaching methods...Makes it simple to learn fingerspelling.

[BYUFanatic]

@triciawyrosdick Thank you very much for the kind words. *smile* Glad you liked it.

[malika585]

best video on signing i have seen so far!

[BYUFanatic]

@malika585 Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it.

[miraclay]

What an excellent video. I loved that you showed what NOT to do!

Very helpful.

[BYUFanatic]

@miraclay Ah yes. That's the key - pointing out how NOT to do it. Ha ha. The "errors" I show are common ones that I've seen many students do over the years. So it's important to point them out to help other students avoid those errors. Glad you like the video!

[amsvixen82]

This is VERY helpful! Your facial encouragements and indications of "no-nos" are really great :) So motivating!

[BYUFanatic]

Thank you very much. Glad you enjoy. *smile*

[nusdorfer]

I love you, man! Now I am your number one fan! I realized I bounced my arm all the time, totally wrong...

[BYUFanatic]

LOL. You flatter me, but thank you. *smile* Glad we were able to fix your bouncing issue. *wink*

[ubermammal]

Awesome video. Such a great idea not just to show us how the signs are done, but also how they're /not/ done - with the other videos I've watched it's sometimes hard to tell whether a particular part of the sign is important, or whether it's just how the presenter happens to have recorded it. This video makes it lovely and clear. Thank you :-)

[BYUFanatic]

You're very welcome! Glad I was able to help clear up any confusion. *smile*

[Ix3speechpathology]

awesome video! I'm in grad school for speech pathology & as an undergrad never had any ASL classes. I'm trying to teach myself some sign language, and this video was nicely put together. I have a client who signs, so this is a perfect way to start.

[BYUFanatic]

Excellent! As someone who knows a number of individuals who are in, or who have gone through, speech path classes I'm disappointed that there is very little exposure to ASL. Surprising considering that they interact with Deaf people. Good luck - check out my website!

[d00d4206969]

Actually, I was just checking out your site. I am definitely going to be taking your courses. Thank you again. *smile*

[BYUFanatic]

Woo woo! You go! *smile* Let me know what you think of my website.

[d00d4206969]

Thank you very much Rob. I'm New at this, and you're videos are helping SO much more than charts and some other videos I've found. I am also trying to learn to sign so I can better communicate with patients. I can't burden them with making them write down everything they want to say. I will be logged onto your videos a lot! You're a big help.

[BYUFanatic]

You're VERY welcome. And I'm sure your clients will be VERY appreciative of the effort you make to learn our langauge. Good luck!

[ChrisRathman]

Excellent resource for absolute beginners - such as myself - to Sign Language. The presenter obviously cares for the craft and manages to make it accessible. A good first resource for those of us that are trying to establish a foothold in the language.

(Somehow hit the 4 star rating, when I meant to put 5. Youtube doesn't seem to allow one to correct ratings).

[BYUFanatic]

You can do it! Just think "baby steps." *smile* Rome wasn't built in a day and learning a new language is also something that takes time. Glad to have you on board!

[awapala5460]

This is the best ASL abc video I've seen.  It helps me to recognize the common mistakes - and how to avoid them. Thank you very much!

[BYUFanatic]

You are very welcome. *smile* Glad you like.

[BYUFanatic]

That's great! Far too few people in the medical field know how to sign. As I'm sure you already know, if you want to be able to legally interpret for a deaf individual in a hospital you'll need to be certified (state or national certification). But being able to communicate with them in ASL is always a nice thing.

[marissawho]

thank you very muxh for making these videos they are very clear and understandable. are there any careers for asl? 5 star

[BYUFanatic]

Glad you like the videos and find them helpful! There are actually a number of careers you can choose from using ASL. Some examples - interpreting, teaching deaf children, counselor, social work, etc. Plus, there are a number of careers where knowing ASL is helpful such as - doctor/nurse, public safety, audiology, etc. Good luck!

[Chavatzellet]

fantastic! when i was growing up i signed with a few friends of mine, but since then forgot it since I no longer use it, I went on another site and thought for a second that I had learned half the alphabet wrong! but you confirm that I had indeed learned it correctly the first time. Thanks! btw does SL vary between region? just due to the fact that I found a different way to sign the alpha within the usa... thanks.!

[Banerika]

Chavatzellet, this is why it's so important to know whether or not your source of information for ASL is correct and accurate. This guy knows what he is doing. There are lots of sites that show the alphabet and others signs done completely the wrong way. Fortunately, we have BYUFanatic here to show the correct way. He is Deaf and has several degrees in the field and years of experience teaching ASL.

[BYUFanatic]

Hello Chavatzellet! Glad you're learning to sign again. It's a wonderful language. The letters I spelled are the most commonly used variations. There are some minor (very minor) variations depending on regions within the US. Outside of the US they have their own variations of sign language. I do suggest you avoid the the blonde lady who is making videos for "ExpertVillage" here on YouTube. She has obviously learned random signs from a book and as such makes many errors.

[Nattobeere]

Awesome!!

I love your videos. They show very good how you´ve to do the handshapes.

I already knew the ASL alphabet, but this video helped me noticing that I did some letters wrong. Now I know how to do them right. (: Thanks a lot!!

(Sorry for my bad English)

[BYUFanatic]

Your English is very good. Glad you like the video. That's why I made it, to help people notice letters they might do wrong. *smile*

[avidcaver]

Great Videos! I'm an ASL teacher in Indiana, thank you for sharing such great resource.

[BYUFanatic]

Always a pleasure to bump into other ASL teachers. You ready for the new school year? I'M NOT! *smile* Glad you enjoyed the video.

[chaniee]

This video made it so easy to learn :D

[BYUFanatic]

Hi Chaniee! Glad you enjoyed the video. Stay tuned, lots more still coming!

[BYUFanatic]

Thank you very much. Glad you liked the video.

[prcsblkperl]

very clever...this vid i can appreciate...proper positioning and everything...tysvm for the post...Fantastic! Peace

[ccbw]

Well done video. Nice clarity, pace and description of acceptable and unacceptable handshapes. Great job!

[MrAslfan]

Great lesson on what to do, and what not to do. Keep up the good work!

[Banerika]

Awesome!

[BYUFanatic]

Glad you like. *smile*

[Flaminbob6060]

good vid lol... still at it... even during summer vacation.... just like ya nuts :p

[BYUFanatic]

You know it kiddo. Will have a LOT more of them done by the time summer is over.