A discussion regarding how double-letters are handled during fingerspelling:
Double letters in ASL fingerspelling:
The purpose of this post isn't to tell you all about double letters in
fingerspelling. The purpose is to tell you that with the power of the internet
you as a student no longer have to be at the mercy of any particular
ASL-instructor's opinion regarding how ASL is or isn't done. Toward this goal
--I'll suggest an approach:
Advice from an ASL Lexicographer:
1. Define your terms and develop your glossary: Make sure you have a clear
understanding of the words you are going to use to analyze and document your
topic.
2. Use the internet to locate as many real life examples of the target concept
in context-rich signing by native level signers as you can.
3. Analyze that signing and make notes of what you are seeing.
4. Develop a list of notes, rules, or reminders based on your observations,
analysis, or deductions:
Here is a mini-example of the above process as applied to the fingerspelling of
double letters in ASL:
Glossary:
Tapping: Tapping in ASL fingerspelling is the act of reforming a fingerspelled
letter that has internal contact points. For example, if you reform the letter A
you first tap the fingertips to the palm of the hand then form a gap and again
tap the fingertips to the palm of the hand.
Reforming: Reforming in ASL fingerspelling is the act of relaxing or slightly
relaxing a fingerspelled letter and then forming the letter again. Note: All
tapped letters are reformed but not all reformed letters are "tapped." Tapping
requires internal contact.
Arc or Arcing: Arcing (also can be spelled as "arching") means to "move with a
curving trajectory" (Source: Lexico.com) In ASL fingerspelling "arcing" refers
to moving in a small curve. Generally the curve forms an upright arc. This arc
can be thought of as a combination of a sideways slide and bounce.
Bounce: Bouncing in ASL fingerspelling is the slight (or sometimes
not-so-slight) up and down movement of the hand.
Jabbing: Jabbing in ASL fingerspelling is when a fingerspelled letter is thrust
forward.
Jab/bounce: A jab/bounce in ASL fingerspelling is a movement wherein the hand
has both an up and down movement as well as a forward thrusting movement.
Typically this manifests as a letter being formed as it is moved forward and
down and then the hand is pulled back and up as it relaxes and then the next
letter is formed as the hand again moves forward and down.
Sliding: Sliding in ASL fingerspelling is when a fingerspelled letter is moved
smoothly (not bounced, arched, or reformed) toward (typically) the dominant-hand
side of the signers body.
=============================
Real world example section:
Example 1: Deaf man named Aaron spelling his name:
https://youtu.be/dc4u8i6ZppA?t=15
Notes: The signer reforms (taps) the A with no slide.
Example 2: Newscaster spelling the name Aarron Loggins:
https://youtu.be/L3Mwdz85-Gs?t=18
Notes:
Double “AA” beginning of name: Does a very, very small reformation of the A with
very little sideward movement (approximately a centimeter).
Double R middle of name: Does a very small relax (maintaining overall “R” shape)
and tighten of the R while moving one-letter-width to the dominant side.
Example 3: Sign 1 Newscaster spelling Wooddall (as in Jethro Wooddall)
https://youtu.be/L3Mwdz85-Gs?t=31
Double OO in middle of word: Forms an O, relaxes into a tight C while moving
approximately 2 centimeters to the outside and reforms the O.
Double DD in middle of word: Forms a D, gaps the fingertips and thumb by about 2
centimeters (into an open-D) then reforms the D with no significant sideways
movement THEN at the end of the second D moves one letter width further to the
dominant side to continue spelling.
Double LL at end of a somewhat long word involving other double letters (Wooddall):
Literally repositions the hand one full letter-width toward the non-dominant
side with a 2 centimeter bounce, forms an L and does an sideways
full-letter-width arc (which could be considered a combination of a slide and a
bounce) with no change in the shape.
===========
Notes:
It is common to see the double letters "AA" slightly or fully reformed" This is
sometimes referred to as "tapping."
It is common to see the letters OO reformed when they occur in the middle of a
word.
It is common to see the double letters DD reformed when they occur in the middle
of a word.
It is common to see the double letters LL slid at the end of a word. It is also
not uncommon to see the first L of a double-L re-positioned a full-letter-width
to the non-dominant side prior to the beginning of the slide.
====================
Comment:
If you do your own research and notice that your current local instructor's
advice matches your research results -- rejoice! You now have a strong indicator
that your local current ASL teacher is "a good one." (Credible).
Topic: Double letters in fingerspelling
Sub-topic: The partial-truth of "double letters are slid when they occur at the
end of a word."
The problem: Telling students rigid rules about ASL as if the rule were a "fact"
or the one absolutely right way of doing something.
Goal: Help ASL teachers be a little less sure of ourselves when announcing rules
about ASL.
This comment / thread will focus on the word "zoo" for a moment as a way to
unpack the myth of the (so called) "rule" that "double letters slide at the end
of words" -- and point out that it is only a partial-truth.
Yes, yes, yes, -- the (observable) reality seems to be that "most of the time"
double letters slide at the end of words.
"Most of the time" is not the same as "always."
OO in the word ZOO: Is often done with a slide but examples of native Deaf and
other very-skilled signers can (sometimes) be seen doing the OO in zoo via
reforming. For an example of reforming see the 2:32 mark of this video: https://youtu.be/MsjPxUtLF7E?t=150
also see the 3:43 mark of this video: https://youtu.be/LSqUH7KpWnk?t=223 and see
the 3:42 mark of this video: https://youtu.be/unwt5EtPY4k?t=221 . See the 2:52
mark of this video: https://youtu.be/IfdEkeldBe4?t=172 for another example of a
reformed OO. At the 5:06 mark of this video: https://youtu.be/3pKwGJ55kYM?t=306
(note that the signer (Renca) does a very fast but observable reforming of the
"O" (specifically O open/slide O). Then three seconds later does ZOO using
"only" the slide (without reforming the "O"). That is an example of the same
concept being shown in two different ways (reforming vs just sliding) within 3
seconds of each other. Also note that in that same video (in which Renca is
discussing zookeeping) she spells zookeeper and in the word zookeeper the OO is
slid (not reformed).
The point here is that when an ASL teacher tells you that double letters at the
end of a word are "slid" the thought in your mind could be "Okay, if I take a
test from you I'll make sure to do that but I just recently watched videos of
half a dozen Deaf "not" doing that (in at least one example). So, yah, well
sometimes double letters are slid at the end of words and sometimes they aren't
-- but thanks for the authoritative seeming advice."
Again, yes -- the concept of zoo is (observably) most often spelled using the
slide method (especially on second and later usage during the same conversation)
and you should generally do the slide method (for double letters at the end of a
word) when taking a test at school (unless your teacher prefers otherwise) but
it is a myth (or simple error) to claim that sliding double letters at the end
of a word the "one right way"
The truth is more complex than that.
Stay flexible folks. You'll trigger a lot less often.
How do you sign Mississippi?
Let's take a look at how the concept of Mississippi is being expressed by a Deaf
adult skilled signer who is a professional (as in money is being earned due to
advertising revenue) host of a Deaf news service in ASL that covers trending
stories and Deaf topics.
At the 3:18 mark of the Jun 24, 2022 newscast https://youtu.be/pbM5ow2TJM4?t=197
we see Alex sign the concept of "Mississippi" via fingerspelling.
Some fun things about the spelling of Mississippi done by Alex Abenchuchan in
that video at the 3:18 mark:
1. He does the letter "M" by simply bending (but not folding and tucking) all
four fingers (not just 3 fingers) to lay over the thumb. This is an example of
how, in real life signing, the letter M is often very different from how it
appears on manual alphabet charts and how over a thousand ASL teachers teach it
to their ASL 1 classes each semester. (Easy math. There are 50 states in the
United States It is not unreasonable to assume there are over 20 ASL teachers on
average per state. 50 x 20 = 1,000).
2. He cuts the word Mississippi from 11 letters to 7 letters.
"Missipi"
3. The P is done at a position or orientation that is halfway between a citation
P and a citation K.
That is an example of how the position of the letter "P" as signed in real life
is often significantly different from how it appears on manual alphabet charts
and is taught by over a thousand ASL teachers each semester.
4. He spells the word generally in the same place but moves slightly to the
outside (his right) on the double S while doing a reforming of the S. (So it
isn't one or the other: slide or reform -- but rather it is a combination of the
two.)
https://youtu.be/pbM5ow2TJM4?t=195
That is an example of how the real life choice between reforming and / or
sliding of a double letter (as taught by hundreds or more teachers each
semester) really isn't an either / or choice (as presented by the teachers) but
rather is sometimes combined.
The point here is that ASL teachers often teach "citation" ASL. An idealistic /
fantasy version of ASL handshapes, sign choices, and (supposed) grammar -- that
often conflicts with or is not representational of how the vast majority of
everyday Deaf people communicate in real life.
But hey, it is good to have dreams, goals, and ideals. Make sure to mark your
students wrong when they sign more like their Deaf friends or coworkers than
what you see in your ASL book or manual alphabet charts. Of course, to know the
difference -- you need to personally have Deaf friends and/or coworkers. Hmmmm.
___________________________
HT (hat tip) to Alex Abenchucan of the Daily Moth and the rest of the Daily
Moth team (and all of the other Deaf newscasters out there) who are putting in
the sweat, guts, and work while exposing themselves to this sort of scrutiny.
Bravo! -- Just Bravo! (Bill Vicars)
Notes:
A student asks:
Question - do you have a page or a simple explanation about the rules for double
letters and the movement they get?
The rules I have now are:
ll, kk, rr, bb - bounce
ss, tt, mm, nn, dd, ff - no bounce but a tap
oo, ee, or, ar - slide
But I'm not sure what the rule is for when the letters are in the middle of the
word vs the end of the word.
REPLY:
I'm not sure why you have added "or" and "ar" to your list. The are obviously not double letters.
My suggestion is to stop focusing on so-called rules of fingerspelling double
letters and instead focus on spelling words clearly and efficiently.
Question:
A student noticed in a video that a right-handed signer did a double L by first
repositioning the hand towards the non-dominant side. The student then asked:
"So, is fingerspelling [of words ending in LL] generally done that way [by
backtracking the hand toward the center of the body] instead of [continuing
further] out from the body (i.e. out toward the dominant side)?"
Response:
What does your research tell you? Go find 10 examples of people spelling long
words that end in "LL." Invest the an hour or two or simply keep it in the back
of your mind for when you watch videos.
After you find authentic examples of LL's at the end of a word advance frame by
frame to see what happens immediately after the letter preceding the LL's.
Here is an example for you
Go to the 3:02 (three minute and two second) time on the following video and
notice how the person spells baseball.
https://youtu.be/2ahpTXhHcLc?t=181
Ask yourself: Does the first L happen further to the dominant side than the
preceding "A"? (Answer: No, it counter-intuitively doesn't).
His dominant side is on his left (since he is left handed).
After he does "BASEBA" he literally moves his hand toward his center a bit and
then does the LL.
Nobody has documented this particular quirk yet (as far as I've seen [Thursday,
Sept. 26, 2019]). Does the "backtrack" movement of LL's at the end of a "long"
word happen all the time? I'm not saying that. I'm simply saying I can (and
have) provided two authentic examples of skilled signers resetting the position
of their hand in the middle of a word just prior to spelling LL.
Note: I think it would be safe to say all socially active, experienced, adult
skilled signers have seen "backtracked LL's" before (all of us who are even
slightly socially active and have conversations with others or watch online
videos) and yet I bet people (including native Deaf or ASL teachers) who are
just "glancing" at this thread (instead of investing the hour or two of mental
and physical effort it might take to click on links and watch videos frame by
frame) will not "notice it."
I personally didn't realize and make note of the common tendency to
backtrack-"LL's on long words" until I was frame by frame analyzing double
letters and just happened to notice there is a pattern.
Note:
Should teachers be overtly teaching backtracked-LL's? I fear that
"intentional" use of backtracked LL's by a beginner-level signer may be like a
beginning ballet dancer attempting to do "pointe technique"* early on in their
studies. Instead of a beautiful result they will end up looking silly (and have
painful toes).
Perhaps better (in both dancing and fingerspelling) would be to focus on
sequential / graduated skill building and get to the the "advanced moves" when
it is the right time.
__________________________
*Definition: "Pointe technique is the part of classical ballet technique that
concerns pointe work, in which a ballet dancer supports all body weight on the
tips of fully extended feet within pointe shoes." (Source: Wikipedia: "Pointe
technique")
___________________________
Double Numbers:
Double numbers 22, 33, 44, ...thru 99 and double letters (those that move rather
than reform or use a slight bounce -- particularly double letters at the end of
a word) should not move toward your center but rather numbers and letters that
move should move (slightly) outward toward your dominant side.
Note also that the double numbers tend to use a slap downward / bounce / arc
movement.
See: "33" https://youtu.be/Wz-ix3Pw0gY
A student writes that their local instructor told them:
1. If the double letters are at the end of word its always a slide.
2. If the double letters are in the front or middle and are closed fist then you
tap. “Aaron” or “Tommy”. (not all letters)
3. If the double letters are in the front or middle and are open handed you
bounce. “Apple” (remember not all letters can bounce)
Response / Comment: Just because your local instructor tells you something
is "always" done a certain way, doesn't mean it is always done that way.
Sorry.
A student writes:
"I swear my teachers contradict themselves. If no letter after double letters
then slide. Except for all the times, there is a slide with a letter (or two)
behind it. Is there a set of rules for this anywhere? Because if I am supposed
to slide the oo in wool when I've just been told to bounce if there are letters
behind the double letters clearly I'm either nuts or I'm missing something.
Visual concept of a woman tearing her hair out. "
Notes: