noun
- the system of communicating by using the fingers and hands to represent letters and words, especially as used in sign language for deaf people
Usage: also called finger spelling; technical term in linguistics and deaf education
Examples
- Dactylology is an essential component of American Sign Language.
- She learned dactylology to communicate with her deaf students.
- The instructor demonstrated dactylology by spelling out each letter with her fingers.
- Dactylology allows signers to spell out proper names and words not represented by standard signs.
- Many deaf children master dactylology as part of their early language development.