Types of Hand Positions in Sign Language

A—Fist, palm outward, horizontal.
 

B—Fist, back outward, oblique upward.
 

C—Clinched, with thumb
extended against forefinger,
upright edge outward.
 

D—Clinched, ball of thumb
against middle of forefinger, oblique, upward, palm down
 

E—Hooked, thumb against end of forefinger, upright, edge outward.
 

F—Hooked, thumb against side of forefinger, oblique, palm outward.
 

G—Fingers resting against ball of
thumb, back upward.
 

H—Arched, thumb horizontal against
end of forefinger, back upward.
 

I—Closed, except forefinger
 crooked against end of thumb,
upright, palm outward.
 

J—Forefinger straight, upright, others closed, edge outward.

 

K—Forefinger obliquely
 extended upward, others
closed, edge outward.
 

L—Thumb vertical, forefinger
horizontal, others closed, edge outward.

 

M—Forefinger horizontal, fingers and thumb closed, palm outward.

 

N—First and second fingers straight upward and separated, remaining fingers and thumb closed, palm outward.
 

O—Thumb, first and second fingers separated, straight upward, remaining fingers curved edge outward.
 

P—Fingers and thumb partially
curved upward and separated, knuckles outward.
 

Q—Fingers and thumb, separated, slightly curved, downward.
 

R—Fingers and thumb extended straight, separated, upward.
 

S—Hand and fingers upright, joined, back outward.
 

T—Hand and fingers upright, joined, palm outward.
 

U—Fingers collected to a point, thumb resting in middle.
 

V—Arched, joined, thumb resting near
end of forefinger, downward.
 

W—Hand horizontal, flat, palm downward.
 

X—Hand horizontal, flat, palm upward.

 

Y—Naturally relaxed, normal; used when hand simply follows arm with no intentional disposition.