Indian Language Alphabetic Sign Language System
India has several different sign language systems, just as
it has several different written and spoken languages. However, no system
of finger-spelling (letter by letter communication with hand
gestures) has achieved any significant level of support within the deaf
The most important elements of a good finger spelling
system are as follows:
The signs are be easily distinguishable
The signs are be comfortable and easy to give
Some signs are naturally easier than others, so the common
letters should be given signs which are easy and quick to do, while
uncommon ones can be assigned which are relatively slow and difficult
In addition, the system should be easy to teach and learn,
so the following requirements should be met
The system builds organically upon any already
The system has an internal logic & consistency to
We are building upon earlier attempts to define a finger
spelling standard (a system to sign Hindi vowels was devised in 1994, and
a one-handed system was devised in 1976 but failed to spread widely).
Multiple Language Support
India's major languages are superficially very different
but nevertheless have common Sanskrit roots and actually have a great
degree of similarity, so the Indic Finger Spelling project - originally
conceived just for Bengali - should allow users to intercommunicate
without problem between all the major Indian languages.
Following an already established standard
equivalence between the languages,
we aim to produce a common finger spelling system that will unite
the subcontinent and allow signers to cross the barriers that divide
the different Indian languages.
N.B. If you are looking red Indians, you got the wrong page:( Try
a native American Sign language dictionary, or
a page on Plains Sign Language.