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Fingerspelling

Also known as: Manual alphabet, Dactylology

A method of spelling out words letter by letter using hand shapes, used within sign languages to represent proper nouns, technical terms, or words that lack a dedicated sign. Each letter of the written alphabet corresponds to a specific hand configuration. Fingerspelling poses particular challenges for automatic sign language recognition and translation systems because the rapid hand movements and subtle shape differences between letters are difficult to capture, and it requires character-level rather than word-level recognition.

Category: Communication · sign language · deaf and hard of hearing

Related: Sign language · Sign language translation · Non-manual markers · Augmentative and alternative communication

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