View source for Two-handed manual alphabets

{{Short description|Part of a deaf sign language}}
Several [[manual alphabet]]s in use around the world employ two hands to represent some or all of the letters of an [[alphabet]], usually as a part of a deaf [[sign language]]. Two-handed alphabets are less widespread than [[one-handed manual alphabet]]s. They may be used to represent the [[Latin alphabet]] (for example in the manual alphabet used in [[Turkish Sign Language]]) or the [[Cyrillic alphabet]] (as is sometimes used in [[Yugoslav Sign Language]]).

== BANZSL alphabet ==
This alphabet is used in the [[BANZSL]] group of sign languages. It has been used in [[British Sign Language]] and [[Auslan]] since at least the 19th century, and in [[New Zealand Sign Language]] since the 1970s. Variations of this alphabet are also used in [[dialect]]s of [[Indo-Pakistani Sign Language]].

[[File:Bimanual alphabet.jpg|thumb|This chart shows the BANZSL alphabet.]]

=== Notes ===
* Signs may be made with the left or right hand as the dominant hand, but the roles do not usually switch when [[fingerspelling]]. The dominant hand generally acts as a pointer (or "pen") while the secondary hand acts as "paper".
* The vowels A, E, I, O and U are formed by touching each digit respectively, starting with the thumb.
* The letters C, D, J, K, P, Q, T, V, X, and Y make the shape of the letter itself.
* The letters B, F, G, L, M, N, R, S, and W suggest the shape of the letter.
* The letters G, L and R suggest only the lowercase form of the letter.
* Only the letters H and Z do not have a strong relation to their shape or position in the alphabet.
* Many letters appear backwards (for example, in right-handed fingerspelling, R and D often appears backwards to the viewer). This is not a mistake or a problem, and your signing does not need to be adjusted to compensate.

{{anchor|Deafblind alphabet}}

== BANZSL deafblind alphabet==
This is a variation on the above alphabet, modified for [[Touch|tactile]] use by those communicating with people who are [[Deafblindness|deafblind]].

The sender holds the [[wrist]] of the receiver. The receiver's hand is relaxed, with the [[Hand#Areas|palm]] open and fingers slightly apart. The signer uses their dominant hand like a pen to sign on the non-dominant hand of the receiver. As a beginner, you may squeeze the wrist of the receiver between words since you will spell haltingly. Once you can spell fluently, simply put a short pause between words. AEIOU are the pads of each finger, beginning with the [[thumb]].

[[File:Two-hand manual.ogv|right]]
;A: BANZSL "A" is signed on the tip of the thumb
;B: The fingers and thumb are held together to form half of the BANZSL "B" and placed on the palm
;C: Draw your finger along the edge of the thumb and up the index finger, alternatively the direction of the sweep can be reversed
;D: The signer forms half of the BANZSL "D" with their dominant hand and places it against the recessive hand of the receiver; an alternative is to use the index and middle finger placed against the recessive hand
;E: BANZSL "E" is signed on the tip of the index finger
;F: Half of the BANZSL "F" is signed either on the palm or on the top of the receiver's [[index finger]]
;G: Half of the BANZSL "G" is signed on the palm
;H: BANZSL "H" is signed across the palm
;I: BANZSL "I" is signed on the tip of the [[middle finger]]
;J: BANZSL "J" is signed on the hand of the receiver
;K: Half of the BANZSL "K" is signed on the first [[knuckle]] of the index finger
;L: BANZSL "L" is signed on the palm
;M: BANZSL "M" is signed on the palm
;N: BANZSL "N" is signed on the palm
;O: BANZSL "O" is signed on the tip of the [[ring finger]]
;P: Pinch the pad and nail of the index finger (P for pinch)
;Q: Hook your curled index finger around the thumb
;R: BANZSL "R" is signed on the palm
;S: Hook your curled index finger around the [[little finger]]
;T: BANZSL "T" is signed on the receiver's hand
;U: BANZSL "U" is signed on the tip of the little finger
;V: BANZSL "V" is signed on the palm
;W: There are three ways to do this; all are acceptable, but your receiver might not know them all:<ul><li>Interlace your fingers with theirs</li><li>Grab all their fingers from the side (if your hand is folded over, their index finger lies across the first knuckles of your hand)</li><li>Grab their fingers from the top (if your hand is folded over, their fingertips lie across the first knuckles of your hand)</li></ul>
;X: Half of the BANZSL "X" is signed on the index finger
;Y: The index finger is used to sign a BANZSL "Y" on the hand of the receiver
;Z: The side of the palm is placed on the palm of the receiver

== Other deafblind alphabets ==

From [http://www.deafblindinformation.org.au/about-deafblindness/deafblind-communication/deafblind-manual-alphabet "Deafblind Manual Alphabet"], on Deafblind Information, Senses Australia (links added):

:"Variations of this alphabet {{sic| hide=y|is}} used in some dialects of [[Indo-Pakistani Sign Language]].
:&nbsp;
:"Other forms of manual deafblind alphabet are used around the world - eg. The Lorm Deafblind Manual Alphabet (Belgium).<ref name=Lorm>[http://www.deafblind.com/lorm.html The Lorm Deafblind Manual Alphabet]</ref>  In some countries, eg. Sweden, the one-handed alphabet used is modified by applying the shape of the letter into the hand of the person who is deafblind at a different angle, making the shape easier to feel."

== Turkish manual alphabet ==
<!-- See Talk page, § Turkish manual alphabet  -->
{{Google books|xtMxBwAAQBAJ|Current Directions in Turkish Sign Language Research|page=72}}

== Yugoslav manual alphabet ==
{{main|Yugoslav manual alphabet}}
Some signs are modeled after letters of the [[Serbian Cyrillic alphabet]], others after [[Gaj's Latin alphabet]], or stem from other sources. [http://www.inkluzija.org/biblioteka/srpski%20znakovni%20jezik.jpg] [http://www.deafmkd.org.mk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=83&lang=mk]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.deafsign.com/ds/fingerspell/fs_b2h_key.cfm British Fingerspelling keyboard]

{{Manual alphabet}}
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