Two-handed manual alphabets


Several manual alphabets in use around the world employ two hands to represent some or all of the letters of an alphabet, usually as a part of a deaf sign language. Two-handed alphabets are less widespread than one-handed manual alphabets. They may be used to represent the Latin alphabet or the Cyrillic alphabet.

BANZSL alphabet

This alphabet is used in the BANZSL group of sign languages. It has been used in British Sign Language and Auslan since at least the 19th century, and in New Zealand Sign Language since the 1970s. Variations of this alphabet are also used in dialects of Indo-Pakistani Sign Language.

BANZSL deafblind alphabet

This is a variation on the above alphabet, modified for tactile use by those communicating with people who are deafblind.
The sender holds the wrist of the receiver. The receiver's hand is relaxed, with the palm open and fingers slightly apart. The signer uses their dominant hand like a pen to sign on the non-dominant hand of the receiver. As a beginner, you may squeeze the wrist of the receiver between words since you will spell haltingly. Once you can spell fluently, simply put a short pause between words. AEIOU are the pads of each finger, beginning with the thumb.
;A: BANZSL "A" is signed on the tip of the thumb
;B: The fingers and thumb are held together to form half of the BANZSL "B" and placed on the palm
;C: Draw your finger along the edge of the thumb and up the index finger, alternatively the direction of the sweep can be reversed
;D: The signer forms half of the BANZSL "D" with their dominant hand and places it against the recessive hand of the receiver; an alternative is to use the index and middle finger placed against the recessive hand
;E: BANZSL "E" is signed on the tip of the index finger
;F: Half of the BANZSL "F" is signed either on the palm or on the top of the receiver's index finger
;G: Half of the BANZSL "G" is signed on the palm
;H: BANZSL "H" is signed across the palm
;I: BANZSL "I" is signed on the tip of the middle finger
;J: BANZSL "J" is signed on the hand of the receiver
;K: Half of the BANZSL "K" is signed on the first knuckle of the index finger
;L: BANZSL "L" is signed on the palm
;M: BANZSL "M" is signed on the palm
;N: BANZSL "N" is signed on the palm
;O: BANZSL "O" is signed on the tip of the ring finger
;P: Pinch the pad and nail of the index finger
;Q: Hook your curled index finger around the thumb
;R: BANZSL "R" is signed on the palm
;S: Hook your curled index finger around the little finger
;T: BANZSL "T" is signed on the receiver's hand
;U: BANZSL "U" is signed on the tip of the little finger
;V: BANZSL "V" is signed on the palm
;W: There are three ways to do this; all are acceptable, but your receiver might not know them all:;X: Half of the BANZSL "X" is signed on the index finger
;Y: The index finger is used to sign a BANZSL "Y" on the hand of the receiver
;Z: The side of the palm is placed on the palm of the receiver

Other deafblind alphabets

From , on Deafblind Information, Senses Australia :

Turkish manual alphabet

Yugoslav manual alphabet

Some signs are modeled after letters of the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet, others after Gaj's Latin alphabet, or stem from other sources.