Fingerspelling in Different Countries

[Ingvild Roald]

Norwegian Sign Language does not use fingerspelling much, even if there
are at least two fingerspelling alphabets in use (for one hand and for two
hands). Fingerspelling is only used to introduce new concepts or names,
and are quickly replaced by proper signs. These may have the same hands
and movements as an already existing sign, except that the mouth is used
differently. Mouthing is an integral part of NSL, and the focus of the
listener is on the mouth of the signer rather than on the hands. Of
course, NSL also has adverbials etc. that are not borrowed from Norwegian,
on the mouth.  - So our sign texts would look much like the German ones.

Ingvild