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<language>American Sign Language</language>
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<lesson_number>1</lesson_number>
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<title>Manual Alphabet</title>
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<intro>When you do not know a sign for a word (or if there is no sign for a word), you can fingerspell it using the Manual Alphabet. With practice, you should recognize patterns of handshapes as words rather than trying to read each individual letter, just like with written text. Most signs are made with your wrist facing the viewer. Use your dominant hand.</intro>
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<text>When you do not know a sign for a word (or if there is no sign for a word), you can fingerspell it using the Manual Alphabet. With practice, you should recognize patterns of handshapes as words rather than trying to read each individual letter, just like with written text. Most signs are made with your wrist facing the viewer. Use your dominant hand.</text>
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10
<lesson type="image">
28
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
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<text>Keeping fingers together, curve them down toward thumb, but do not let the thumb and fingers touch.</text>
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28
<lesson type="image">
34
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
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<text>Extend index finger and touch tips of middle, third, and fourth fingers to tip of thumb.</text>
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<lesson type="image">
40
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
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<text>Fold thumb across palm and fold tips of fingers to palm but do not cover thumb with them.</text>
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40
<lesson type="image">
46
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
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<text>Touch index finger to thumb with remaining fingers spread out.</text>
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46
<lesson type="image">
64
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
62
<text>Make a fist with your smallest finger extended.</text>
70
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
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<text>Make a fist with your smallest finger extended, then hook it in toward yourself.</text>
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<lesson type="image">
76
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
74
<text>Make a fist with your index finger extended straight up and middle finger extended forward. Put your thumb between them.</text>
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76
<lesson type="image">
82
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
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<text>Extend index finger up and thumb to the side, forming an L-shape..</text>
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<lesson type="image">
100
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
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<text>Touch the tips of all four fingers to the thumb.</text>
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100
<lesson type="image">
104
102
<demo>p.jpg</demo>
106
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
104
<text>Turn hand to face downward and extend index finger forward and down while middle finger goes back and down. Place thumb between them.</text>
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106
<lesson type="image">
110
108
<demo>q.jpg</demo>
112
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
110
<text>Turn hand to face downward and extend index finger and thumb, parallel.</text>
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112
<lesson type="image">
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114
<demo>s.jpg</demo>
118
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
116
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the front of your fingers.</text>
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118
<lesson type="image">
122
120
<demo>t.jpg</demo>
124
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
122
<text>Make a fist with your between index and middle fingers.</text>
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124
<lesson type="image">
128
126
<demo>u.jpg</demo>
130
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
128
<text>Make a fist with your index and middle fingers extended straight up, together.</text>
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130
<lesson type="image">
134
132
<demo>v.jpg</demo>
136
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
134
<text>Make a fist with your index and middle fingers extended straight up, apart.</text>
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136
<lesson type="image">
140
138
<demo>w.jpg</demo>
142
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
140
<text>Make a fist with your index, middle, and third fingers extended straight up, apart.</text>
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142
<lesson type="image">
146
144
<demo>x.jpg</demo>
148
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
146
<text>Make a fist with your index finger extended and curved.</text>
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148
<lesson type="image">
152
150
<demo>y.jpg</demo>
154
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
152
<text>Make a fist with your thumb and fourth finger extended to the sides.</text>
156
<lesson type="image">
154
<lesson type="video">
160
<text>Make a fist with your thumb on the side of your hand.</text>
158
<text>Make a fist with your index finger extended. Trace a Z-shape in the air.</text>