Alplai Sign Language (.°:╘└╞.─╞╓.─˽.─.┴║.┴.─└)

The Alplai Sign Language, or heijajna, is the primary language for Alplai's deaf population. It was developed by Torvelosh, a Baalti goverment official who had lost his hearing in an explosion; he developed the basic signs and system, rooted in both the Baija and Kiitra languages. Over time, as it was adopted by deaf people and their teachers, more signs were adopted, some coined and others borrowed from village and home signing systems.

Fingerspelling
Fingerspelling is done with the right hand raised at the right shoulder, usually pointing upwards. Vowels start with the palm facing out and forward, and finger extended; the glottal stop (') and "h" also have the palm facing out, but with the four fingers curled; remaining consonants start with the palm facing in towards the shoulder, and fingers curled inwards.

a = palm out with tip of forefinger and thumb touching

aa = palm out with thumb over palm, forefinger curled over thumb

o = palm out with thumb pointing out, forefinger curled down

i = palm out with tip of middle finger and thumb touching

ii = palm out with thumb over palm, middle finger curled over thumb

e = palm out with thumb pointing out, middle finger curled down

u = palm out with tip of ring finger and thumb touching

uu = palm out with thumb over palm, ring finger curled over thumb

ai = palm out with tip of forefinger and middle finger touching tip of thumb

ei = palm out with tip of middle finger and ring finger touching tip of thumb

' = palm out with thumb over palm, all four fingers curled over thumb

h = palm out with thumb pointing out, all four finger curled into palm

s = palm in with forefinger and middle finger extended

g = palm in with forefinger and thumb extended

k = palm in with forefinger, middle finger and thumb extended

kh = "k" sign bent at wrist to point left

n = palm in with little finger, ring finger and thumb extended

m = palm in with little finger, ring finger, middle finger and thumb extended

f = palm in with ring finger extended

v = "f" sign bent at wrist to point left

j = palm in with little finger and forefinger extended

z = palm in with little finger, forefinger and thumb extended

sh = "z" sign bent at wrist to point left

p = palm in with middle finger and forefinger extended

b = palm in with middle finger, forefinger and thumb extended

d = "p" sign bent at wrist to point left

t = "b" sign bent at wrist to point left

l = palm in with little finger extended

r = palm in with little finger and thumb extended

rh = "r" sign bent at wrist to point left

Counting
Counting is done with the right hand, based on the customary finger-counting method; the right hand is held over the left shoulder, palm facing in (1 to 9) or upwards (10 and multiples of 10).

1 = little finger extended

2 = little finger and ring finger extended

3 = little finger, ring finger and middle finger extended

4 = all four fingers extended

5 = thumb only extended

6 = thumb and forefinger extended

7 = thumb, forefinger and middle finger extended

8 = thumb, forefinger, middle finger and ring finger extended

9 = all four fingers and thumb extended

10 = tips of fingers and thumb together, pointing upwards

11 = "10" sign, "n" sign at left shoulder, "1" sign

20 = "2" sign, "10" sign

100 = "10" sign with fingertips tapped once against left shoulder

1,000 = "10" sign with fingertips tapped twice against left shoulder

23,000 = "2" sign, "3" sign, "1,000" sign

Basic word/concept signs
[to be developed]