What Is Auslan Alphabet? Two-Handed System Explained
If you are beginning your journey into Australian Sign Language, one of your first questions is likely what is Auslan alphabet. The Auslan fingerspelling alphabet is a two-handed manual system that represents the 26 letters of the English alphabet using specific hand positions and movements. It is a fundamental tool for spelling names, places, and words that do not have established signs.
How the Two-Handed Alphabet Works
The Auslan alphabet uses both hands working together to create each letter. Your non-dominant hand (left hand if you are right-handed) serves as a stable base, while your dominant hand creates or modifies the shape. The letters are formed at chest height in a comfortable, natural position.
This two-handed system is part of a family of manual alphabets shared by Auslan, British Sign Language (BSL), and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). All three languages use essentially the same fingerspelling system, which means that an Auslan signer can fingerspell with a BSL or NZSL signer without any difficulty. This shared alphabet reflects the historical connections between these languages, all of which trace their roots back to BSL.
Each letter has a specific configuration involving hand position, contact point, and sometimes movement. Many letters are visually iconic, meaning the hand configuration resembles the shape of the printed letter. The letter C, for example, is formed by curving one hand into a C shape. The letter T involves placing the thumb of the dominant hand between the index and middle fingers of the base hand, and so on.
The alphabet is designed to be readable by the person watching, not by the person producing it. This means that when you form the letter L, it appears as an L from your conversation partner’s perspective. This reader-oriented design ensures clarity in communication, as the person receiving the fingerspelling sees familiar letter shapes. Learning each letter correctly from the start is essential, just as learning to sign hello correctly sets the tone for all future interactions.
Auslan Alphabet vs ASL Alphabet
One of the most striking differences between Auslan and American Sign Language is their fingerspelling systems. While Auslan uses a two-handed alphabet, ASL uses a one-handed system where all letters are formed with the dominant hand only.
The ASL one-handed alphabet traces its origins to the old French manual alphabet, reflecting the historical influence of French Sign Language on ASL. The Auslan two-handed alphabet, by contrast, developed within the British tradition. These different origins explain why the fingerspelling systems look completely different despite representing the same English letters.
Neither system is inherently better or worse than the other. The one-handed ASL alphabet has the advantage of leaving one hand free, but the two-handed Auslan alphabet allows for larger, more visible letter formations that can be easier to read from a distance. Each system is perfectly suited to the language community that uses it.
Because the alphabets are so different, knowing one does not help you with the other. An ASL signer watching Auslan fingerspelling would not be able to read it without specific study, and vice versa. This is an important point for people who have learned ASL fingerspelling and assume it will transfer to Auslan; you will need to learn the two-handed system from scratch.
Some letters happen to look similar across the two systems purely by coincidence, but most are completely different. The transition from one system to the other can be confusing initially, as your muscle memory from one alphabet may interfere with learning the other. Give yourself time to adjust and practise the Auslan alphabet independently until it becomes automatic.
Practice Makes Perfect
Test your sign language skills with our free practice app.
Vowels and Consonants in Auslan
The Auslan alphabet has a beautifully logical system for its five vowels. Each vowel is represented by pointing to or touching a specific finger on the non-dominant hand. The index finger represents A, the middle finger represents E, the ring finger represents I, the little finger represents O, and the thumb represents U.
This consistent pattern makes the vowels the easiest part of the alphabet to learn and remember. Since vowels appear frequently in English words, mastering them gives you a solid foundation for fluent fingerspelling. Practise the vowel sequence (A-E-I-O-U) until pointing to each finger becomes instinctive.
Consonants are more varied in their formation. Some use the base hand as a surface or reference point, while others create two-handed shapes that resemble the printed letter. A few involve movement rather than a static position, adding a dynamic element to the alphabet.
Certain consonant pairs are formed similarly and can be confused by beginners. For example, the letters M and N use similar configurations but differ in the number of fingers involved. The letters G and H also share similarities. Pay special attention to these easily confused pairs during your practice, as clarity in fingerspelling depends on precise distinction between every letter. Looking up how these letters are used in signs like good gives you context for real-world application.
When Fingerspelling Is Used
Fingerspelling is not a substitute for Auslan signs; it is a specific tool used in particular situations. Understanding when fingerspelling is appropriate helps you use it naturally as part of your Auslan communication.
Personal names are the most common use of fingerspelling. When you meet someone new, you fingerspell your name as part of your introduction. In Deaf culture, people also often have a name sign, a personalised sign that represents them, but fingerspelling is always used first when meeting someone for the first time or when introducing someone to a third party.
Place names, brand names, and titles are typically fingerspelled, especially if they do not have widely known signs. Major cities and countries usually have established signs, but smaller locations, specific businesses, and proper nouns are generally fingerspelled. Some frequently used proper nouns develop their own signs through common usage over time.
Technical terminology, especially in academic, medical, and legal contexts, may require fingerspelling when no established sign exists. In these situations, the term might be fingerspelled the first time and then abbreviated or assigned a temporary sign for the remainder of the conversation.
Emphasising a specific word is another use of fingerspelling. A signer might fingerspell a word that does have an established sign to draw attention to the specific word itself, for clarity, or for emphasis. This is similar to how a speaker might spell out a word letter by letter for emphasis in spoken English.
Tips for Mastering the Auslan Alphabet
Learning the Auslan alphabet is a manageable task that most people can accomplish within a few weeks of daily practice. Here are strategies to speed up your mastery.
Learn the alphabet in small groups rather than all at once. Master the five vowels first, then learn consonants in groups of four or five. Spend a few days on each group before adding the next. This prevents overwhelm and ensures each letter is firmly established in your memory before you move on.
Use the visual similarities between hand configurations and printed letters as memory aids. Many letters in the Auslan alphabet look like their printed equivalents, and recognising these connections makes them easier to remember. For letters that are not visually intuitive, create your own memory associations.
Practise fingerspelling throughout the day, not just during dedicated study sessions. Spell words you see on signs, products, screens, and documents. This constant low-level practice builds speed and fluency far more effectively than occasional intensive sessions.
Work on reading fingerspelling as well as producing it. Ask a study partner to fingerspell words for you to read, or watch online videos of Auslan fingerspelling at various speeds. Reading fingerspelling is a distinct skill from producing it, and both need deliberate practice. Recognising fingerspelled words like sorry in conversational context sharpens your overall receptive ability.
Record yourself fingerspelling and review the footage. Check that your letters are clearly formed, your hand position is consistent, and your transitions between letters are smooth. Self-review is particularly important for online learners who may not have regular access to instructor feedback.
Finally, remember that fingerspelling is a means to an end, not the end itself. While it is an essential tool, your goal should be to learn as many proper Auslan signs as possible and use fingerspelling only where it is the appropriate communication strategy. A fluent signer fingerspells relatively little compared to how much they sign, because most everyday communication uses established signs rather than spelling out words letter by letter.
Related Articles
Practice ASL Signs
Use your camera to practice signs and get real-time AI feedback on your technique.
Free · No signup required