How to Sign US States & Capitals in Sign Language

American Sign Language (ASL) is the native language for hundreds of thousands of deaf North Americans. It developed from American and French signs in the 1800s. ASL is a distinct language from English, with its own set of grammar and syntax. It does, however, use the same alphabet as English and it is through fingerspelling that most United States capitals and state names are signed. Fingerspelling is the act of manually spelling out an entire word. All letters are expressed using one hand, with the arm held relatively still and the back of your hand facing you.

Instructions

• 1

  Sign all states with the two letter abbreviation used by the United States Postal Service. For instance, Maine is signed "ME" and South Dakota is signed "SD."

• 2

  Fingerspell some states using a longer abbreviation. Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Pennsylvania and Tennessee can all be signed with their first four letters. Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon and Wisconsin can be signed using their first three letters. West Virginia can be signed "WVA."

• 3

  Sign New York alternately by putting out your left hand with the palm flat and facing up. Form the letter Y with your right hand and move it away from the body and back toward the body over your open palm.

• 4

  Put your left palm vertical with the thumb out slightly to begin signing Michigan. With your right index finger, trace the left hand from below and over the thumb, over the fingers and back down around the bottom of the palm.

• 5

  Form the letter X and bring it from your left shoulder across to the right and diagonally down to sign Texas.

• 6

  Outline a rectangle with both hands forming Ms for Montana. Start with your hands next to each other at the top of the rectangle, meeting again at the bottom of the shape.

• 7

  Sign New Mexico with an M near your upper lip and arced twice back toward your right ear.

• 8

  Make a fist, with your thumb facing the middle of your mouth. Slide the fist diagonally up to the left of your mouth, then down, then diagonally up to the right side of your mouth and down for Arizona.

• 9

  Make a W at your right shoulder and arc forward twice for the state of Washington.

• 10

  Use both hands to make two hula motions to each side of your body, beginning to the left, for Hawaii.

• 11

  Put both fists with the thumbs together in front of your forehead. Circle your fists around each side of your face and meet at the chin for Alaska.

• 12

  Spell all state capitals in their entirety.