Sign Language Alphabet 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In professional or educational ASL settings, at what palm orientation should fingerspelling generally be directed?
- Palm facing outward toward the reader (Correct answer)
- Palm facing the signer
- Palm facing upward
- Palm facing downward
Correct answer: Palm facing outward toward the reader
During fingerspelling, the palm generally faces the conversation partner so they can read the handshapes clearly.
Question 2: Which ASL letter is formed by a closed fist with the thumb resting on top of the index finger?
- E
- A (Correct answer)
- S
- O
Correct answer: A
A is a fist with the thumb resting on the side of the bent index finger, distinct from S where the thumb wraps over the fingers.
Question 3: What is the recommended placement zone on the body for fingerspelling in standard ASL?
- Shoulder height, in front of the dominant shoulder (Correct answer)
- At waist level near the hip
- In front of the chest at mid-body
- Above the head for visibility
Correct answer: Shoulder height, in front of the dominant shoulder
Fingerspelling is typically produced near shoulder height in front of the dominant shoulder for maximum clarity and ease.
Question 4: Which pair of ASL letters is most easily confused due to nearly identical handshapes involving a curved hand?
- C and O (Correct answer)
- G and H
- V and U
- B and 4
Correct answer: C and O
C and O look very similar — both use a rounded hand, but O closes fully while C stays open.
Question 5: What does it mean to 'initialize' a sign in ASL?
- Using the fingerspelled first letter of a word as the handshape for that sign (Correct answer)
- Starting every sentence with a fingerspelled word
- Spelling a word letter-by-letter instead of using a standard sign
- Using two hands to spell simultaneously
Correct answer: Using the fingerspelled first letter of a word as the handshape for that sign
Initialization means borrowing the first letter's handshape from the manual alphabet and incorporating it into a sign.
Question 6: Which ASL handshape is used for the letter 'S'?
- A closed fist with the thumb wrapped over all four fingers (Correct answer)
- A fist with the thumb between index and middle fingers
- Four fingers extended with thumb folded
- An open hand with fingers spread
Correct answer: A closed fist with the thumb wrapped over all four fingers
S is a fist where the thumb wraps over the front of the curled fingers, covering them.
Question 7: A student sees the fingerspelled sequence: X – then a slide – X. What word ending is most likely being spelled?
- A double-letter ending like 'xx' is never used in English
- A word with a repeated X such as in 'exx'
- A word where X appears twice consecutively (Correct answer)
- A movement artifact with no linguistic meaning
Correct answer: A word where X appears twice consecutively
A slide between two identical handshapes signals a double letter in ASL fingerspelling, so the signer is indicating two X's in a row.
Sign Language Alphabet 5
In professional or educational ASL settings, at what palm orientation should fingerspelling generally be directed?