The thumb used in the letter "B" generally has a "slight" bend, but not as much as depicted in most books. The picture of "B" in my http://asl.mswebsite was taken in a series as I was spelling the ABC's. Thus a "B" being produced after an "A" tends to have less of a bend. If you videotape a Deafie fingerspelling the word "about" at high speed, the "B" will generally have almost no bend in the thumb. If you video record the spelling of the term "MBA" the "B" will have a very acute bend.
-- William G. Vicars, EdD.
"B" Version 1:
The thumb of the letter "B" generally has a "slight" bend, but not as much as depicted in most books.
The picture of "B" in my http://asl.mswebsite was taken in a series as I was spelling the ABC's.
You might notice that a "B" being produced after an "A" tends to have little or no bend.
If you videotape a skilled signer fingerspelling the word "about" at high speed, the "B" will generally have little or no bend in the thumb. If you video record that same person spelling of the term "MBA" the "B" will have a very noticeable bend. Here's how I do the letter "B" in general:
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"B" Version 2:
Some people cross the thumb over the palm. I don't do it this way because it takes too much effort. (Hey, I'm not lazy, just efficient.) This is how most "books" show it:
Shannon: What is a "b" palm? It doesn't relate to signing the letter "b" right?
DrVicars: When used to describe a sign, a "b" palm is like the letter "b" but you don't have to bend the thumb around onto the palm. The thumb is just alongside the palm in a natural position, with the fingers touching each other (side by side, extended). Think of a traffic cop telling oncoming traffic to stop.
Shannon: Okay that's what I guessed; just wanted to make sure.
"Classifier B," "Flat hand," or "B palm."
This handshape uses a "B" hand with the thumb alongside instead of folded across the palm. This handshape is used to describe flat, rectangular objects or surfaces.
Examples: - The roof of a house, a sheet of paper, a table, a box ...
Hello ASL Heroes!!! As you go about watching ASL blogs or videos I encourage you to occasionally freeze fingerspelled words done on the hands of skilled signers (native or near-native level) and advance them frame by frame.
For example, just recently Belinda posted a video of Erik Witteborg discussing diabetes. If you will slow down the video and/or watch it a frame at a time you might want to take note of how he does the letter "B" when spelling diabetes. I'll post a pic below for your convenience.
After freezing enough fingerspelled words you will likely come to the conclusion (as I have) that the way the letter "B" shows up "in real life" on the hands of skilled signers is significantly different from the mythical ideal typically shown on fingerspelled alphabet charts (ASL: ABC's) which typically show the letter "B" done with a bent-thumb across the palm. In real life fingerspelling done by skilled signers the thumb is rarely bent across the palm to the extent shown in fingerspelling charts. The actual shape of a "B" handshape is going to vary widely depending on the preceding letter and the speed of the spelling.
The problem with learning and teaching the "strongly bent thumb" version of "B" (as shown in most fingerspelling charts) is that doing so creates yet another (micro) impediment to our students eventually developing fluency. My suggestion? Relax a little.
Image credit:
(Source: Witteborg, Erik, (December 18, 2018) "Most Risky Food for Type 2 Diabetes?" ASL Health Literacy, Retrieved 1/15/2019 from: https://youtu.be/pwf8Yb0c79A Time code: 2:18 )
Specific image: https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/images-layout/b-handshape-sample.jpg
More info: https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/b/b.htm
Video: https://youtu.be/pwf8Yb0c79A (See 2:18)
(Source: Witteborg, Erik, (December 18, 2018) "Most Risky Food for Type 2 Diabetes?" ASL Health Literacy Retrieved 1/15/2019 from: https://youtu.be/pwf8Yb0c79A Time code: 2:18 )
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