---
title: fingerspelling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fingerspelling» in the school dictionary: Fingerspelling is spelling out words letter by letter with hand shapes, as part of a sign language. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fingerspelling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fingerspelling, letter, words, We, I, my · **What happens:** be, letter, use, have, learn, fingerspell · **To what, where:** spelling, It, sign, fingerspelling, assembly, name

<!-- .vabout -->
«fingerspelling» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [fingerspelling in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fingerspelling.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fingerspelling is spelling out words letter by letter with hand shapes, as part of a sign language.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:m1:1
# text = Fingerspelling is spelling out words letter by letter with hand shapes, as part of a sign language.
1	Fingerspelling	fingerspelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	case	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
6	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	shapes	shape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Fingerspelling | spelling |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **letter** |  | letter with hand shapes |  |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: by=agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is used for names, places and words that have no sign of their own.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:m2:1
# text = It is used for names, places and words that have no sign of their own.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	13	det	_	_
13	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | It |  |  |  | for names and places and words | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for name=Eventuality |
| 2 | **have** | present | words | no sign of words's own |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned fingerspelling in assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:x1:1
# text = We learned fingerspelling in assembly.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fingerspelling	fingerspelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We | fingerspelling |  | assembly |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fingerspelling=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I can fingerspell my name in British Sign Language.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:x2:1
# text = I can fingerspell my name in British Sign Language.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	fingerspell	fingerspell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	Sign	Sign	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Language	Language	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fingerspell** | can | I | my name |  | British Sign Language |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **name** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fingerspelling is used for names that have no sign.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:x3:1
# text = Fingerspelling is used for names that have no sign.
1	Fingerspelling	fingerspelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Fingerspelling |  |  |  | for names | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for name=Eventuality |
| 2 | **have** | present | names | no sign |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In American Sign Language, fingerspelling uses one hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:x4:1
# text = In American Sign Language, fingerspelling uses one hand.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	Sign	Sign	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Language	Language	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	fingerspelling	fingerspelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | fingerspelling | one hand |  | American Sign Language |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
British fingerspelling uses both hands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:x5:1
# text = British fingerspelling uses both hands.
1	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	fingerspelling	fingerspelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | British fingerspelling | both hands |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She fingerspelled the word «cat» slowly so I could follow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:x6:1
# text = She fingerspelled the word «cat» slowly so I could follow.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fingerspelled	fingerspell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
9	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fingerspell** | past | She | the word |  |  |  | slowly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **follow** | could | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A poster of the fingerspelling alphabet hangs in our classroom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:x7:1
# text = A poster of the fingerspelling alphabet hangs in our classroom.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	poster	poster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fingerspelling	fingerspelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	alphabet	alphabet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	hangs	hang	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	classroom	classroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | present | a poster of the fingerspelling alphabet |  |  | our classroom |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in classroom=Location |
| 2 | **post** |  |  | the fingerspelling alphabet |  |  |  |  | nom poster «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fingerspelling fast takes lots of practice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fingerspelling:x8:1
# text = Fingerspelling fast takes lots of practice.
1	Fingerspelling	fingerspelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
3	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | Fingerspelling | lots of practice |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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