This document provides instructions for signing the letters of the British Sign Language (BSL) alphabet. It describes how to form each letter sign by positioning the fingers and hands in a specific configuration. Most letters are formed by touching different fingers between the hands, but some, like H and J, involve movement. The instructions emphasize the precise finger and hand placements needed to distinguish between similar letters like L and T or D and P.

1. Learning BLS (British Sign
Language)

2. 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.

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

4. The letter C
Just hold your hand out as if
you are trying to pick up a can.
There is no movement involved

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. The letter G
Clench both fists and place
them on top of each other on
their sides.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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 to the wrist and then up
to the tip of the thumb.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. The letter P
Put the index finger and thumb
of your right together and
touch the tip 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. The letter S
Bend the little finger on the
right hand and interlock it onto
the little finger on the left hand.

21. The letter T
Touch the tip of your index
finger on your right hand
straight DOWN towards the
palm on your left hand near the
edge. Its the angle of the finger
that is the difference between L
and T.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.