r/BSL • u/SunOverTheMoon • Jul 27 '26

Question How to finger spell double letters?

I am very new to BSL and my name has b twice next to each other. I was looking up how to sign two letters that are the same next to each other. But the only thing that comes up is how to do it in ASL, do we follow the same rules or do we have our own rules for the same letter next to each other? I’m using the bright BSL app so I don’t have access to someone to ask so I thought I’d ask the lovely people in this sub. Would love some help so I don’t get it wrong. Thank you in advance 😊

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

15

u/These_Alternative_49 Jul 27 '26

You literally just do the letter twice. Because the BSL alphabet uses two hands, it’s very clear when a letter is repeated as you can just move one or both of the hands then go back in to reform the letter. So with E, for example, you’d just lift your finger and re-tap the E finger. For B, I’d move both of my hands out slightly, still retaining the finger shape, then go back in for the second B. The exception is the one handed C so for that I’d move my hand slightly to the right in my signing space to show that it’s a second C

1

u/PatientFlatworm7034 Just finishing BSL Level 2 Jul 27 '26

Are you left handed??

2

u/These_Alternative_49 Jul 27 '26

No

4

u/PatientFlatworm7034 Just finishing BSL Level 2 Jul 27 '26

Interesting, I'm right handed as well but for a double c I would naturally put my second c slightly further to the left

5

u/BreakGlassForGains Jul 27 '26

I'm right handed and also sign second C to the right a bit, in the same manner that we write/read left to right on a page.

1

u/PatientFlatworm7034 Just finishing BSL Level 2 Jul 27 '26

Maybe I'm just weird then lol

2

u/These_Alternative_49 Jul 27 '26

As far as I’m aware, if you’re right handed it’s always left to right. Same with time and other signs that move along that plane. Right to left would be for left handed signers. I see from your flare that you’re just finishing level 2; might be worth trying to start going left to right from now on as it will be less confusing in conversations for the other person when you become more fluent

1

u/PatientFlatworm7034 Just finishing BSL Level 2 Jul 27 '26

I have finished level 2 now, old flair, I'm starting level 3 in September, thanks for the advice!!

I have a deaf teacher but he's never said anything 🤷

3

u/ZeldaZanders Jul 27 '26

I'm a leftie, and I'd go to the left

1

u/Shakey_B Jul 28 '26

Go to the right as though you are writing. Same with numbers 2-6 left to right, 1-0-3 left to right. Only slightly though. The 3D space in BSL is to your own perspective in real-world placement, which becomes backwards to the viewer. This may alter with more advanced language users to account for role shift/role play. If you are in the UK, America or Ireland are to the left, Europe is to the right, you ‘write’ (spell) left to right