Basic linguistics
Handshape parameter in sign language
The five parameters (handshape, movement, location, palm orientation, and non-manual signal) are the smallest units of sign language. I.e. A single ASL word/sign is made up of the five parameters. Each parameter has a set of primes.
How many handshapes are there in ASL? Originally, the Dictionary of American Sign Language by Stokoe et al. listed 19 handshape primes in the 1960s. Over time, ASL linguists listed over 50 handshapes. There is no consensus on the specific number of handshapes. Generally speaking, there is over 50 handshape primes.
ASL handshape chart
The handshape system of the "Handspeak handshape chart" below was developed by Jolanta Lapiak for the reverse dictionary in early 2000s and occasionally modified since then. E.g. baby 0's have been moved to 20. The chart is for a general illustration.
0-num
opinion
nothing
0-flat
food/eat
1-num
for
think
1-claw
apple
key
recently
suspicious
1-d
dating
1-i
idea
if
2-num
see
twice
2-bend (N)
niece/nephew
2-claw
doubt
gum
2-close
knife
name
2-cross
rocket
realize
3-num
lousy
awkward
3-claw
bug
mischievous
3-close
funny
rabbit
3-flat
no
duck
3-k
4-num
leak
envious
4-close
beer
know-that
4-claw
5-num
parent
finish
5-close
school
please
5-claw
mad
grumpy
5-half
video-recording
experience
5-bend
seem
forget
tired
5-c
look-for
complain
6-num
wine
6-claw
weird
6-inverse (y)
forever
7-num
nerd
7-8
hippopotamus
8-num
silver
melon
8-inverse
enmity
8-open
advantage
touch
9-num
fruit
sewing
10-num
girl
sports
10-a
aunt
10-s
bicycle
work
10-t
teenage
20-num
bird
gossip
1-thumb (L)
later
law
20-claw
20-g
nut (as in pea-brained)
Related posts
Review phonology on the smallest units of language.
With a single change of the prime, it changes the meaning. See minimal pairs.
See how handshapes are formed from birth to kinder in language acquisition. See a case study of the handshapes developed from birth to age 3.