Hello, I'm Jenny! I'm an ASL teacher and volunteer interpreter for the VRChat deaf community.
I wanted to make this video with my friend to show you the differences when comparing
real life sign language and VR sign language, because of the limitations that controllers have.
It's really interesting and I hope that you enjoy and watch the video with all of us.
A very common question that I get is "How do you make the transition from
real life sign language to VR sign language?"
Especially with the knowledge that you have to sign with this big controller in your hand, so how do you do that?
Well first off, a thing that you want to understand is that each controller is different, but
most of them have the same rules, which are that they have a set number of hand shapes.
The other controller that I mentioned, Index is a bit different, in that it uses a different form of tracking;
allowing much more freedom in how your hands move.
However, it doesn't mean that it's impossible to sign with other controllers.
Our community here has lasted for a long time before Index arrived.
Therefore, we have created changed to move with the limitations that we have with all types of controllers.
My best advice is to not think about the controller in your hand, and rather think about the VR hands themselves.
Controllers like Oculus have a very intuitive system for understanding the different hand shapes.
With different buttons, you create the real hand shape in real life and it mimics it in VR.
It's a sink or swim world, but I promise if you continue to practice, you'll be a champ.
Let's start with the alphabet!
Again, because of the limitations of VR, they're going to be just a little different, but
they're always still based on real life ASL.
"A" is just signed like this.
In real life, you would have the thumb pressed to the other hand. However in VR, we just use
this, so that it's clear.
"A"
"B"
Many controllers don't have the liberty of thumb movement in this way.
Therefore, we use our other finger to imply the fact that the thumb is on top of the palm of your other hand.
"B"
"C"
More commonly, you will see this variation, just utilising the relaxed position on controllers.
However, you may also see people doing this, which is implying the fact that the thumb is out,
further extending the "C" position.
"C"
"D"
This is just using a pointed finger.
To make sure it's more clear, it is this way, forward facing towards the person.
However, it's pretty much the same as in real life.
"D"
"E"
If you do know how to sign it in real life, you could tell this is a bit different.
Again, this is because of the limitations. The fact that our thumbs cannot go this way, so we use
our other hand to show where the thumb would be.
"E"
"F"
More commonly known as the "OK" hand shape, many avatars do have this.
However, if your avatar does not, you're just going to be pointing
to that finger here, bringing it down to your thumb, implying how this hand shape would look in real life.
"F"
"G"
Only slightly different than in real life, because often you'll see the thumb is slightly out in real life.
Instead, we just show it to the side like this, with a pointed finger.
"G"
"H"
Using the "peace" sign, in real life they would be more close together.
However, it's still easily understood what it means when showing it horizontally this way.
"H"
"I"
This can be shown with using a fist and a pointed finger, and moving it behind the other;
implying that the pinky is up.
Or like this.
Showing a flicking motion of the pinky coming upwards.
"I"
"J"
This is either just with a fist because of the motion, or if you have a rock and roll hand
or any hand with the pinky up, you can just show this.
"J"
"K"
Much different than in real life, you're just going to be using a peace sign towards yourself
to differentiate if from the other letters.
You can also see it this way, like this, "K"
and an older version with the thumb.
However, the most common version you will see is "K".
"L"
There is no change here, all sign compatible avatars will have this motion ready.
"L"
"M"
This has a lot of variations, this is the most clear and commonly used one.
However, if you want to be more accurate to real life, there is "M"
or "M".
Like this.
"M"
"N"
This again is the most commonly used version on "N".
However, if you'd like to be more accurate, you could be using "N"
or "N".
"N"
"O"
Utilising the fist motion, and pointing towards the person, so they can clearly see the outline
of the letter "O".
"O"
"P"
This is signed, again with the peace sign, pointed downwards to show the "P" hand shape.
"P"
"Q"
Using the pointed finger hand gesture, pointing downwards to show the letter "Q".
"Q"
"R"
This has many variations, one of them showing the twisting of the fingers with the other hand shape.
Like this.
Or "R", by just twisting the hand.
Again, implying that the fingers are crossed over each other.
"R"
"S"
Or, "S", could just be a static, non-moving fist, or to more clearly show that it's an "S" hand shape,
outlining an "S" in the air.
"S"
"T"
With two open hands, simply making a "T" shape.
Or again, if you'd like to be more accurate to real life, using a fist and a pointed finger
and/or thumb.
Implying that the thumb is in-between the other fingers.
"T"
"U"
Using peace signs, you're going to outline the U in the air.
Or use your other hand to imply that they're squished together.
So "U"
or "U".
"V"
Simply just using a peace sign, showing the V hand shape.
"W"
Either using two "L" hands to make a clear letter W, or again, if you'd like to be more accurate to real life,
using a peace sign and a pointed finger from the other hand.
"W"
"X"
Either with two pointed finger hands creating an X in the air,
or showing the bending of the finger with the other hand.
"X"
"Y"
If your avatar does have this hand shape, it can be simply made.
If not, using a thumb and a pointed finger.
"Y"
And finally, "Z"
Just the same as real life. Pointed finger outlining a Z in the air.
"Z"
Let's start with some examples of words and how they changed according to the limitations of VR hands.
The first word that we'll use is the word "feel".
In real life, this is a middle finger down with a movement on your chest like so.
And just like this, in VR every time we have this middle finger down shape, you're going to be implying
that with your other finger to say "middle finger is down", then doing the same motion that you would.
Next word is "like".
This is similar to "feel" because it's also utilising
a middle finger, except this time it's connecting to the thumb.
Instead of doing this, we're just going to imply it with the rock and roll gesture.
You're going to be seeing this a lot when it comes to VRChat sign language.
A rock and roll hand can mean anything from a middle finger touching the thumb to that same finger
that I stated before of "feel" or any sort of thing of this being closed in any way.
You might also see this used for "I" or "Y". It's depending on the person that you're signing with.
But in this case, we're going to be implying this "like" hand gesture, which is also known as the eight-hand.
So again, you're just going to use this hand shape that is implied, and do that same
exact motion as you would in real life.
Next word is "interpret".
In real life, you would be having two F hands, but in VR we're going to substitute this with just closed hands.
Again, doing that same motion as you would in real life.
There are a lot of words that include this F hand shape, so like "sentence" or "captions", "explain".
Basically, in many words, if you don't have this F hand shape, you're just going to be showing
your closed hands, so "interpret", "interpreter".
Just like that.
Another example of one that's often confused is how you would sign "if".
In real life, your "I" hand would be up, so just that pinky.
But again, instead we're just going to be utilising that rock and roll hand because the pinky is up.
So you're just going to go rock and roll right on your cheek, just the same as real life.
Just implying that your other fingers are down as well.
So "if".
And our last word would be "weird".
The reason why is because this uses the W hand shape, which isn't possible unless you have Index.
So there are two variations, you could either be doing it with the "two" hand and the going across
your mouth like this, implying the three fingers up.
Or you might also see it with an open to closed hand, just like that.
Another similar word using the W hand would be "water". This one you just show the "W" and bring it to your mouth.
So the basics of these changes made are that we have set hand shapes already given to us.
And so the deaf community makes these changes according to those hand shapes, that are
the closest to real life. And then these already set motions that we have, like the rock and roll being
an implication of the "like" hand, or the closed hand being an implication of F in some contexts
or thumbs up being an implication of Y.
With that knowledge, we can then just apply them to everyday signs that make sense in the context.
And once you progress more and more, practice and hang out with more deaf people, it will be easier
to understand how to take real life signs and shift them into VR.
Thank you so much for watching! I hope that you learned something new and that
you're interested in joining our community here in VRChat.
If you're feeling nervous, understand that our community is super welcoming and we want as many people
as they can to join, to help educate and inform as many people about deaf and hard of hearing culture.
We would love to have you come and visit us! Even if it's just for a day, week, month, I don't know.
But if you're feeling nervous, understand that we have no problem teaching and helping out.
Never be afraid to ask for help, questions or anything else that you need.
Thank you in advance, love you!
