User:Di gama/2009-09-17 handshape images

This page is intended for information about the handshapes. For license information, see the mirror page on Commons.

This set of images (225) comes from a number of photos I took of my hand in order to illustrate the different handshapes used in ASL. Although there is some subjectivity in which handshapes are used and in what frequency, this list reflects the current list, and it may possibly have to be supplemented in the future if more handshapes are recognized. The reason for some of the odd angles is that I strove to make all the signs at my chest, because I did not have a suitable background, so for the most part the InForward images are pointing up, the TipForward are (of course) tip forward, and the others are pointing contralaterally.

The reason I chose nonstandard orientation specifications like "UlnarForward" rather than "PalmDown" or similar was because I was going on the theory that the reader can (mentally or physically) rotate the image, so images pointing up and down (for example) would be redundant. Instead, I focused on exposing different angles of the hand ("In", "Back", "Radial", etc.) to the camera ("Forward"). "Base" (from the wrist) angle is omitted in all cases for obvious reasons.

The handshapes used in these images reflects my interpretation of them (not necessarily correct). If you think a sign should be done differently, leave me a message, and I can produce similar images with the new handshape.

I made these images by photographing myself with a timed camera. As a result, some of the shapes can look "forced" (i.e. tendons sticking out, purple thumb). Although I wasn't consciously trying to be tense, I did have to hold these poses for several seconds as perfectly still as possible, which tends to require a certain tenseness.

All of the handshape names here follow the policy for ASL here. The list of handshapes and descriptions of how to make them can be found at Appendix:Sign language handshapes. —Di gama (t • c • w) 01:57, 19 September 2009 (UTC)