ASL: "vowel" or "vowels"


The American Sign Language sign for "vowel" is based on the British Sign Language fingerspelling version of A E I O U.

Hold up your non-dominant hand with the fingers and thumb spread (like he number 5). Don't worry overmuch about the palm orientation, just hold the 5-hand up in comfortable position with the palm generally facing toward the dominant side and maybe backward a bit -- as if aimed at your dominant shoulder. Next run the tip of the dominant hand index finger in a smooth semi-circle art around the tips of the digits the non-dominant hand -- starting at the thumb. 


 



Notes and references:
See: https://media.spreadthesign.com/video/mp4/1/224347.mp4
and then contrast it with the quick and smooth movement in the second part of this video: https://media.spreadthesign.com/video/mp4/40/425443.mp4 which helps us see the difference between fingersepelling (in British Sign Language)  the individual vowel letters vs. signing "VOWELS."


 






 
Notes: