American Sign Language (ASL) is used by over 500,000 deaf and hard of hearing people in the US and Canada to communicate. It was developed in the 1800s based on French Sign Language. Learning ASL alphabets and finger spelling is important to learn the language. ASL provides benefits like better family communication and career opportunities such as interpretation. Knowing ASL helps one understand deaf culture and provides a way to connect with the deaf community.

1. Do you know there are more than 500,000 people in the US and Canada who learn American Sign
Language? They can communicate without even uttering a word? How do they do it?
The deaf community especially learns American Sign Language quickly an early age. Besides,
family members learn American Signs to communicate with their deaf or hard of hearing members. It
has become quite natural in the United States to pursue a career in Sign Language interpretation.
This blog is going to inform you of the importance of American Sign Language. Also, I tried to
summarize American Sign Language Alphabets in the most meaningful way possible.
What is American Sign Language?
The United States of America is home to hundreds of ethnicities and cultures. Though everyone is
connected by the English language, there are other widely spoken languages in the US e.g.,
Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, and Italian, etc.
It is to say that the deaf is immune to sound. So no matter how much you talk in a language, the
deaf will not hear it and also can’t say it. Therefore deaf were treated as mental sickness in the
Eighteen hundred century. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a Yale graduate, and divinity
student-founded The American Asylum at Hartford, Connecticut in 1817. His first successful student
was a young deaf girl, Alice Cogswell.
He taught Alice the signs related to Ancient French Sign Language about which he had little idea.
After the successful communication by signs, Gallaudet traveled Europe and learned the French
Sign Language to develop American Signs. As a matter of fact, 58% of the ASL are similar to the old
LFS.

2. ASL Language Learning
American Sign Language is not only for the deaf. Deaf is a part of the family and needs a medium
for communication. ASL abridges the gap in between. Here are some reasons why you should learn
American Sign Language-
Connection and Communication
Learning American Sign Language at an early age is very beneficial. ASL is a widely used language
in the US and the fourth/fifth most studied language in American Universities. Most importantly,
approximately 250,000 – 500,000 people use American Sign Language in the US and Canada.
Meanwhile, not every user is deaf. Instead, many of them learn ASL to communicate with the deaf.
In addition, American Sign Language helps to communicate-
● Hearing children to deaf parents
● Hearing siblings or close relatives to the deaf
● Adults who are becoming deaf gradually due to age or any accidents
● Interpreters who sign ASL in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary classrooms
● Religious programs, conventions, lectures, motivational conference, community programs
● Interpreters in news channels, international conferences, meetings, etc.
● Instructors who want to teach deaf students
ASL allows you to communicate proficiently with hearing, hard of hearing, and deaf individuals.
Additionally, mainstream students and deaf schools or universities use ASL to communicate
between them and hearing people. In other words, ASL improves the quality of family and
inter-community communication between hearing people and deaf or hard-of-hearing family
members.
Cultural Attachment
We always have a soft corner to deaf society. American Sign Language is deeply connected to deaf
and hard-of-hearing people. While you learn their language ( here ASL), you become a part of their
society. You begin to understand their sensitive points and their struggle in society. The more you
participate in their programs, the more they will appreciate you.
Career Opportunities
A sign interpreter has a wide range of opportunities to explore. For example, you can work in-
● Schools
● Hospitals
● Courtrooms
● Meeting rooms
● Conference centers
● Translation and interpretation companies
● Individual organizations
● Private clients

3. ● Work remotely
● As self-employed interpreters and translators frequently
● Translators as full-time regular business hours
Don’t you worry about the salary? Sign Interpreters get more than $50k per year according to the US
government labor statistics.
Enroll in this course and learn American Sign Language Online.
Source: bls.gov

4. How To Learn American Sign Language Quickly
Learning American Sign Language quickly needs two things in particular. Firstly, you need to learn
the signs of the alphabet. Secondly, finger spelling is necessary. Let me give some tips regarding
these two sections.
Learn American Sign
For Instance, ASL alphabets maintain similarity with the English letters. As a result, they are quite
easy to grasp if you speak English. So check the letters below and try yourself-
Thumb Rule: NEVER USE TWO HANDS TO LEARN ASL. USE EACH HAND SEPARATELY TO
LEARN.
A
● Fold your 4 fingers but do not break the second joint.
● Keep your thumb straight but attached to other fingers.
B
● Keep your 4 fingers straight but attached to each other.
● Band your thumb a bit and keep it in front of the palm.
C
● Band your 4 fingers like an arc but don’t touch your palm.
● Band your thumb a bit but keep it face to face with the other 4 fingers.
● Show this sign in a sidewise direction.

5. D
● Band your 4 fingers like an arc but touch your thumb with the middle finger.
● Meanwhile, straighten your index finger upward.
E
● The band all of your fingers but don’t let it go down to your palm.
● Meanwhile, touch your index finger with your thumb.
F
● Touch Your thumb to the index finger.
● Meanwhile, Straighten your other three fingers upward.

6. G
● Face your hand sidewise but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, Straighten your thumb and index finger separately.
H
● Face your hand sidewise but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, Straighten your index finger and middle finger jointly.
I
● Face your palm to the front but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, Straighten your pinky and thumb attached to other fingers.
J
● Face your palm to the front but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, Straighten your pinky and quarter circle your wrist from outside to inside.
K
● Face your palm to the front but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, Straighten your index finger upward and put your thumb 90 degrees to your
index finger.
L
● Fold your pinky and ring finger.

7. ● Meanwhile, Straighten your middle finger in a folding direction and index finger in an
upward direction.
M
● Face your palm to the front but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, hide your thumb by your next three fingers so that they look a bit higher than
folded pinky.
N
● Face your palm to the front but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, hide your thumb by your next two fingers so that they look a bit higher than
folded ring fingers and pinky.
O
● Face your palm to the front but make a semi arc with your 4 fingers.
● Meanwhile, connect your thumb to your index and middle finger.

8. P
● Face your palm downward but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, straighten your index finger and make the middle finger perpendicular to the
index finger.
● In other words, just spell ‘K’ and make the wrist downward.
Q
● Face your palm downward but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, straighten your index finger and thumb separately.
● In other words, just spell ‘G’ and make the wrist downward.
R
● Face your palm to the front but do not unfold your fingers.
● Meanwhile, make a spiral of your index finger and thumb upward.
S
● Face your palm to the front and make a fist.
T
● Face your palm to the front and make a fist.
● Meanwhile, raise your thumb through the index and middle finger.
U
● Face your palm to the front and make a fist.

9. ● Meanwhile, straighten your index and middle finger jointly.
V
● Face your palm to the front and make a fist.
● Meanwhile, straighten your index and middle finger separately.
W
● Face your palm to the front and make a fist.
● Meanwhile, straighten your index, middle, and ring finger separately.
X
● Face your palm side-wise and make a fist.
● Meanwhile, make a hook with your index finger.

10. Y
● Face your palm to the front and make a fist.
● Meanwhile, straighten your thumb and pinky.
Z
● Face your palm to the front and make a fist.
● Meanwhile, straighten your index finger.
● Incline your wrist to the right side if you are signing in your right hand and do the same for
left hand.
Learn American Sign Finger Spelling
After learning each of the sign alphabets, it is your time to grasp the hold of finger spelling. Maintain
the following points-
Learn Basic Words:
At first, learn some basic words in sign language. It is more like wetting your feet. Words make your
brain start to think more. You know more words than a child. So when you will be able to learn a few
words, your brain can process more words automatically.
Take Time to Learn:

11. Learning a language is a long process. Spelling words can be tough sometimes. Because you are
learning a new language, take it slowly. When you attempt to fingerspell a word, sign each word
slowly and carefully.
Mistake Is Fine:
Give yourself a break. Above all, nobody is a hundred percent accurate. That is to say, making
mistakes are normal. Don’t get frustrated. Instead, try again and correct your errors.
Acronyms and Same Letter:
Sign Users do not use acronyms like our conventional way. Instead, they round every alphabet after
spelling. This shows that every sign means something. For example NASA, EU, USA, UK, G8, etc.
In the beginning, Spelling the same letter twice can be difficult. French rooted sign languages use a
common system. Bounce the first letter then spell the second one.
You will get a better understanding if you pursue a course. Enroll in this enriched American Sign
Language (ASL) Course to learn practically.
Closing Note
Learning American Sign Depends on two things: Sign language alphabets and finger spelling. Sign
language is not only for the deaf community but also for hearing people. There are numerous
families in the US and Canada where deaf members communicate through ASL language learning.
If you learn American Sign Language, you can get enough opportunities over a large population to
work with. This in term beneficial for your career as they earn $50k+ per annum. So why would you
wait for classes? Learn American Sign Language Online!
Sign Up American Sign Language Online (ASL online)