HandSpeak
HandSpeak is a web resource for learning and practicing American Sign Language, with tutorials, self-study material, and content about Deaf culture.
What HandSpeak is
HandSpeak is a web resource for learning and practicing American Sign Language, with tutorials, self-study material, and content about Deaf culture. Its ASL dictionary supports word searches and filters for handshape, movement, location, and handedness. A reverse dictionary lets users search for signs using related criteria, but is still a developing pilot with incomplete coverage. Learners can practice receptive fingerspelling with an interactive activity and use self-study lessons; HandSpeak says lessons can supplement, but cannot replace, face-to-face instruction and live interaction. Patron Pro adds access to a searchable library of sentences and phrases ranging from basic to advanced. The web app can be added to Android and iOS home screens or installed in Chrome or Edge on Windows 10/11, and an internet connection is required. A free plan is available. Patron Basic costs $5.95 per month, while Patron Pro costs $11.95 per month. Subscriptions are limited to one user on one device at a time, and digital subscriptions and content are non-refundable.
Good
- Dictionary filters include handshape, movement, location, and handedness.
- Interactive activity supports receptive fingerspelling practice.
- Patron Pro includes a searchable Sentence library.
- Available on web, Windows, iOS, and Android.
Watch out
- Reverse dictionary coverage is incomplete.
- An internet connection is required.
- One user and one device can use a subscription at a time.
- Digital subscriptions and content are non-refundable.
Who it suits
HandSpeak may suit ASL learners, language and culture enthusiasts, interpreters, homeschoolers, parents, professionals, Deaf bilinguals, and codas. Its lessons are for self-study or supplemental practice, not a replacement for live instruction.
Verdict
HandSpeak combines lookup tools, practice activities, and self-study lessons, with additional sentence material in Patron Pro. Users should account for incomplete reverse-dictionary coverage and the site's stated limits on instruction and subscription use.
Plans and prices
From HandSpeak's own pricing page, checked 28 Sep 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Patron Basic | $5.95 a month | No ads · No video ads · Browsing perks · Optional add-ons · $5.95/monthly |
| Patron Pro | $11.95 a month | Includes Basic · Save pages to lists · Browsing perks · Premium content · Premium Sentence library · 11.95/monthly |
The facts
Each one read from HandSpeak's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audience
- The site names learners, language and culture enthusiasts, interpreters, homeschoolers, parents, professionals, Deaf bilinguals, and codas as audiences.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Compatibility
- The web app can be added to the home screen on Android and iOS devices and installed in Chrome or Edge on Windows 10/11; an internet connection is required.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Creator and start date
- Jolanta Lapiak says she created the pre-HandSpeak website in 1995, renamed handspeak.com in 2000, and is its creator and owner.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Dictionary
- The ASL dictionary supports word search and filters for handshape, movement, location, and handedness.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Learning practice
- The site offers an interactive activity to practice receptive ASL fingerspelling.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Lessons
- The site provides self-study ASL lessons and says they may supplement practice but do not replace face-to-face instruction and live interaction.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Patron Pro content
- Patron Pro includes access to a searchable Sentence library with sentences and phrases from basic to advanced.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Privacy and security
- The privacy policy says the site uses SSL encryption, does not store card information, and uses third-party payment providers such as PayPro Global, Stripe, and/or PayPal.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Privacy practices
- The policy says the site uses cookies for authentication, personalization, functionality, security, performance, advertising, and analytics, and uses Google Analytics.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Purpose
- HandSpeak is a web resource for ASL learning, practice, tutorials, self-study, and Deaf culture.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Refunds
- The subscription page says online subscriptions, downloads, and digital content are non-refundable.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Reverse dictionary
- The ASL-to-English reverse dictionary searches signs by handshape, movement, location, and handed type, and is described as a pilot under ongoing development with incomplete coverage.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Subscription limits
- A Patron subscription is limited to one user on one device at a time, though the preferred device can be changed by logging in.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Support
- The site directs users with privacy questions to contact it through the Help link.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Video playback
- Playback speed controls work in recent Chromium-based browsers such as Chrome and Edge, according to the site's help page.checked 28 Sep 2001
The company
- Founded
- 1995checked 28 Sep 2001
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