iSign Language (ISL)

This app converts American Sign Language (ASL) into speech. This is done by holding the iPhone and inputing a series of gestures that are broadly similar to standard ASL signs. The app recognises one hundred and twenty two signs; the First 100 Signs from Basic ASL and twenty two additional words, including WH questions and greetings. You can also make simple sentences in English and Japanese. This app is suitable for people who have studied the ASL alphabet.

Choosing a group of signs with swiping

The ISL app groups handshapes by the number of fingers used. You select a group by swiping the screen with one or more fingers. Swiping with one finger selects the one finger group: 1, D, G, I, J, X, and Z. Swiping with two fingers selects the two finger group: 2, H, K, L, Q, R, U, V and Y. Swiping with three fingers selects the three finger group: 3, 8, F, P and W. Signs with four or five fingers (4, 5 and B) are selected with the pinch-out gesture, while the pinch-in gesture selects handshapes that use a closed hand or fist: A, C, E, M, N, O, S and T. The pinch-in gesture is also used to select the ‘bent-hand’ sign, which represents single words.

1)Display word list.

2)Open this instruction manual.

3)Go to sentence section.

4)Swipe here with one or more fingers to select handshapes.

5)These sliders show the iPhone’s orientation.

Choosing a specific handshape by tapping.

On this screen, simply tap the letter or number of the handshape you want.

1)Return to previous screen.

2)Tap here to select a handshape.

One Finger
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Two Fingers
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Three Fingers
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Opened Hand
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Closed Hand (Fist)
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Choosing word handshapes with swiping and by turning the iPhone.

Shaping a word sign with the ISL app is a combination of screen tapping, swiping and pinch gestures and turning the iPhone along the x, y and z-axes. Swipe gestures correspond to ASL motions like rubbing hands, moving hands and turning hands. Turning the iPhone along the three axes also represents turning or moving hands. Pinch-in and pinch-out gestures represent a closed hand or an open hand respectively. Tapping the top, middle or bottom of the screen corresponds to the face, chest or belt line, or the forehead, nose or mouth. After you select a handshape, if there are no further interactions, the word or number will be spoken aloud.

Refer to the diagram on the left, where the screen is divided into nine sections. If you tap 2, then you have selected ‘high.’ If you swipe 2, 5 and 8, then you have drawn a ‘1.’ If you hold the iPhone with the screen facing you, and turn it counter-clockwise, this means ‘-X.’ Refer to the diagram below.

1)On this screen, press a number, draw a picture by swiping, or use pinch gestures.

2)These sliders show the iPhone’s orientation. The blue slider is the x-axis, the red is the y-axis and the green is the z-axis.

Tap
1,2,3,5,8 1 or 2 or 3 or 5 or 8 handshape with no drawing, no pinch gesture and no turning iPhone.
High Tap 1 or 2 or 3.
Middle Tap 4 or 5 or 6.
Low Tap 7 or 8 or 9.
Low-Middle Tap low and middle.

Swipe
Swipe to right Swipe 4, 5 and 6.
Swipe to left Swipe 6, 5 and 4.
Swipe low Swipe 7, 8 and 9.
Swipe twice Swipe 4, 5, 6, 4, 5 and 6.
1 Swipe 2, 5 and 8.
1 upwards Swipe 8, 5 and 2.
Clockwise Swipe 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 8, 7 and 4.
Counter clockwise Swipe 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 6, 3 and 2.
C Swipe 2, 1, 4, 7 and 8.
C opposite Swipe 2, 3, 6, 9 and 8.
Scratch Swipe 5, 8, 5, 8, 5 and 8.
G Swipe 3, 2, 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 6 and 5.
S Swipe 3, 2, 5, 8 and 7.
Cross or X Swipe 2, 5, 8, 4, 5 and 6.
Y Swipe 1, 5 and 3.
Z Swipe 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9.

Tap and Swipe
Low-Swipe Tap low and Swipe to right.
High-1 Tap high and draw 1.
Low-1 Tap low and drawing 1.
Counter clockwise-5 Draw counter-clockwise and tap 5.
S-2 or 4 or
6 or 8
Draw S and tap 2 or 4 or 6 or 8.

Creating a sentence

ISL can make a simple sentence by connecting two or more words. To connect words, choose a handshape, swipe to draw a picture and turn the iPhone repeatedly. When you tap the speak button, the sentence will be spoken in Japanese. If you hold down the speak button, the sentence will be spoken in English. For example, the iPhone will say: ‘What kind of pizza do you like’ if you type ‘pizza you like what kind’ and hold down the speak button.

1)In order to connect words into a sentence, choose a handshape, draw a picture and turn the iPhone repeatedly.

2)Tap this button for Japanese speech, hold for English speech.

3)One word will be deleted.

4)All of words will be deleted.

ISL
(The word with * can be replaced another word.)
Japanese
hello こんにちは
how you お元気ですか?
*fine 元気です
*your name what お名前は?
*bill ビルです
from where you 出身はどこですか?
*japan ジャパンです
you come when いつ来ましたか?
before *year 去年です
you go *school you 学校に行きますか?
*no いいえ
you work where どこで働いていますか?
*church 教会です
church where 教会はどこですか?
*melbourne メルボルンです
you like your work 仕事は好きですか?
*yes はい
*dog you like 犬は好きですか?
i like *dog 犬が好きです
*dog *you like what kind どんな犬が好きですか?
big *dog 大きい犬です
*cat you have 猫を飼っていますか?
i have *cat 猫を飼っています
*cat how many you 何匹の猫を飼っていますか?
*two cat 2匹です
single you 独身ですか?
*no いいえ
marriage you 結婚していますか?
*yes はい
divorced you 離婚しましたか?
*no いいえ
baby you have 赤ちゃんはいますか?
*yes はい
*baby how many you 赤ちゃんは何人ですか?
one baby 一人です
you (that) who あれは誰ですか?
my *brother 兄です
*brother how many you? 兄弟は何人ですか
*one brother 一人です
your house how many bathroom? バスルームはいくつありますか?
*three 三つです
your *home (house) big あなだの家は大きいですか?
*yes はい
*hungry you お腹が空いていますか?
*hungry お腹が空いています
*pizza how many (much)? ピザはいくらですか?
*three dollars 3ドルです
*you don’t like *pizza ピザは好きではありませんか?
*i don’t like *pizza ピザは好きではありません
you(this) what これは何ですか?
*hotdog ホットドックです
*hotdog please ホットドックください
next *you go store 買い物に行きますか?
i go with 一緒に行きましょうか?
*Yes はい
*coat how big コートはどのくらいの大きさですか?
*five 5です
*blue please 青をください
*happy you 嬉しいですか?
*happy 嬉しいです
next i *go home 家に帰ります
drive-car *you 車を運転しますか?
*i drive-car 車を運転します
goodbye さようなら

ISL and ASL Dictionary

1)Search for a word in the ISL dictionary.

2)Close ISL dictionary.

3)Instructions for how to input the word in ISL. When pressed, you will navigate to the same word in the ASL dictionary.

4)Opening ASL's youtube.

Family
mother Select ‘5,’ then tap ‘Low’ twice.
father Select ‘5,’ then tap ‘High’ twice.
boy Select ‘5,’ then tap ‘High,’ and give pinch-in gesture.
girl Select ‘A,’ then draw ‘Swipe low.
marriage Select ‘flat,’ then give pinch-in gesture.
brother Select ‘L,’ then tap ‘High,’ and draw ‘1.’
sister Select ‘L,’ then tap ‘Low,’ and draw ‘1.’
grandpa Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘5,’ then tap ‘High,’ and turn the iPhone outwards with your elbow. (-Z.)
grandma Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘5,’ then tap ‘Low,’ and turn the iPhone outwards with your elbow. (-Z.)
aunt Hold the iPhone on its side in front of your face, with the screen facing you. Select ‘A,’ then turn the iPhone twice toward you with your wrist. (-Y and -Y.)
uncle Hold the iPhone on its side in front of your face, with the screen facing you. Select ‘U,’ then turn the iPhone twice toward you with your wrist. (Y and -Y.)
baby Hold the iPhone on upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing upwards. Select ‘flat,’ then turn the iPhone upwards and downwards with your wrist. (Y and -Y.)
single Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘clockwise.’
divorced Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘D,’ then turn the iPhone outward with your wrist.
Place
home Select ‘O,’ then tap ‘Low’ and ‘Middle.’
work Select ‘S,’ then tap ‘5’ twice.
school Select ‘flat,’ then tap ‘5’ twice.
store Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘O,’ then turn the iPhone outwards with your wrist twice. (Y and -Y.)
church Select ‘C,’ then draw ‘S’ tap ‘5.’
come Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘C.’
go Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘C opposite.’
car-drive Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing right. Select ‘S,’ then turn the iPhone right and left with your wrist. (X and -X.)
in Select ‘C,’ then give pinch-in gesture.
out Select ‘C,’ then give pinch-out gesture.
with Select ‘A,’ then give pinch-in gesture.
Time
day Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘1,’ then turn the iPhone outwards with your elbow. (-Z.)
night Select ‘Bend,’ then draw ‘Cross.’
week Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘Swipe to right.’
month Select ‘1,’ then tap ‘5’ and draw ‘Cross.’
year Select ‘S,’ then draw ‘Clockwise’ and tap ‘5.’
will Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘flat,’ then tap ‘High’ and turn the iPhone outwards with your elbow. (-Z.)
before Hold the iPhone its side in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘5,’ then turn the iPhone toward you with your wrist. (-Y.)
today Hold the iPhone its side in front of your chest, with the screen facing upwards. Select ‘Y,’ then turn the iPhone downwards with your elbow. (Y.)
finish Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘5,’ then turn the iPhone outwards with your wrist. (Y.)
Temperature
hot Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘C,’ then turn the iPhone outwards with your wrist. (Y.)
cold Hold the iPhone upright with the screen facing right. Select ‘S,’ then shake the iPhone left and right.
Food
pizza Select ‘P,’ then draw ‘Z.’
milk Select ‘C,’ then draw ‘S’ and tap ‘4.’
hotdog Select ‘C,’ then draw ‘S’ and tap ‘6.’
hamburger Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing upwards. Select ‘5,’ then turn the iPhone upwards and downwards with your wrist. (X and -X.)
egg Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘H,’ then turn the iPhone outwards with your wrist. (Y.)
apple Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘S,’ then turn the iPhone right and left with your wrist. (Z and -X.)
cheese Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing upwards. Select ‘5,’ then turn the iPhone right and left with your wrist. (Z and -Z.)
drink Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘C,’ then turn the iPhone toward you with your wrist. (Z.)
spoon Select ‘H,’ then draw ‘Scratch.’
fork Select ‘V,’ then tap ‘5’ twice.
cup Select ‘C,’ then tap ‘Middle.’
cereal Select ‘X,’ then draw ‘Swipe to left.’
water Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘W,’ then turn the iPhone toward you with your wrist. (Z.)
candy Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘1,’ then turn the iPhone right and left with your wrist. (Z.)
cookie Select ‘C,’ then draw ‘C.’
hungry Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘C,’ then turn the iPhone toward you with your wrist. (Z.)
Clothes
shirt Select ‘L,’ then give pinch-in gesture.
pants Hold the iPhone its side in front of your belt line, with the screen facing you. Select ‘Bend,’ then turn the iPhone toward you with your wrist. (-Y.)
socks Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘Scratch.’
coat Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘C,’ then turn the iPhone downwards with your chest. (Z.)
underwear Select ‘L,’ then draw ‘G.’
Health
wash Select ‘A,’ then draw ‘Scratch.’
hurt Select ‘1,’ then give pinch-in gesture.
bathroom Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing right. Select ‘T,’ then shake the iPhone backwards and forwards. (Z.)
brush-teeth Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘Swipe to left.’
sleep Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing you. Select ‘5,’ then turn the iPhone toward you with your wrist. (X.)
nice Select ‘Flat,’ then draw ‘Swipe to right.’
Feeling
happy Select ‘Flat,’ then draw ‘Clockwise.’
angry Select ‘5,’ then draw ‘Scratch.’
sad Hold the iPhone its side in front of your face, with the screen facing you. Select ‘5,’ then tap ‘High’ and turn the iPhone toward you with your wrist. (X.)
sorry Select ‘A,’ then draw ‘Clockwise.’
cry Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘1.’
like Select ‘8,’ then tap ‘Middle.’
good Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing you. Select ‘Flat,’ then tap ‘Middle’ and turn the iPhone outwards with your clbow. (X.)
bad Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing you. Select ‘Flat,’ then tap ‘Low’ and turn the iPhone outwards with your wrist. (-Y.)
love Select ‘S,’ then draw ‘Cross.’
Requests
please Select ‘Flat,’ then draw ‘Clockwise’ and tap ‘5.’
excuse Select ‘5,’ then draw ‘Swipe to right.’
thank-you Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing you. Select ‘Flat,’ then tap ‘Low’ and turn the iPhone outwards with your elbow. (-X.)
help Select ‘A,’ then give pinch-out gesture.
who Select ‘C,’ then draw ‘Scratch.’
what Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘Swipe twice.’
when Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘Clockwise’ and tap ‘5.’
where Select ‘1.’ then shake the iPhone backwards and forwards.
why Select ‘Y,’ then tap ‘High.’
how Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘Bend,’ then turn the iPhone outwards with your wrist. (-X.)
stop Select ‘Flat,’ then draw ‘Cross.’
Amounts
big Select ‘L,’ then give pinch-out gesture.
tall Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘1 upwards.’
full Select ‘5,’ then draw ‘Swipe left.’/td>
more Select ‘O,’ then give-in gesture.
Colors
blue Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘B,’ then turn the iPhone outwards with your wrist. (-Y.)
green Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘G,’ then turn the iPhone outwards with your wrist twice. (Y and -Y.)
yellow Hold the iPhone its side in front of your chest, with the screen facing you. Select ‘Y,’ then turn the iPhone right and left with your wrist. (X and -X.)
red Select ‘1,’ then tap ‘Low’ and draw ‘1.’
brown Select ‘B,’ then draw ‘1.’
orange Select ‘C,’ then draw ‘S’ and tap ‘8.’
gold Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘Y.’
silver Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘S.’
Money
dollars Select ‘A,’ then draw ‘Swipe to right.’
cents Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing you. Select ‘1,’ then tap ‘High’ and turn the iPhone outwards with your elbow. (-X.)
cost Select ‘X,’ then draw ‘1.’
Animals
cat Select ‘F,’ then give pinch-in gesture.
dog Select ‘D,’ then draw ‘G.’
bird Select ‘G,’ then give pinch-out gesture.
horse Select ‘U,’ then draw ‘Scratch.’
cow Hold the iPhone its side in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘Y,’ then turn the iPhone backwards and forwards with your wrist. (Y and -Y.)
sheep Select ‘V,’ then draw ‘Swipe to left.’
pig Select ‘Flat,’ then draw ‘Scratch.’
bug Select ‘3,’ then draw ‘Scratch.’
Additional Signs
my Select ‘5,’ then tap ‘5.’
your Select ‘Flat,’ then tap ‘Middle.’
I Select ‘1,’ then tap ‘5.’
you Select ‘1,’ then tap ‘2.’
yes Hold the iPhone its side in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘S,’ then turn the iPhone forwards and backwards with your wrist. (Y and -Y.)
no Select ‘3,’ then give pinch-in gesture.
have Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing right. Select ‘Bend,’ then turn the iPhone toward you with your wrist. (-Y.)
what-kind Select ‘K,’ then draw ‘Clockwise’ and tap ‘5.’
how-many Select ‘S,’ then give pinch-out gesture.
name Select ‘H,’ then draw ‘Cross.’
don’t-like Select ‘8,’ then give pinch-out gesture.
hello Hold the iPhone upright in front of your face, with the screen facing right. Select ‘Flat,’ then turn the iPhone outwards with your elbow. (-Z.)
goodbye Select ‘5,’ then give pinch-in gesture.
fine Hold the iPhone upright in front of your chest, with the screen facing right. Select ‘5,’ then tap ‘Middle’ turn the iPhone outwards with your elbow. (-Z.)
from Select ‘1,’ then draw ‘Cross.’
next Select ‘Flat,’ then draw ‘C opposite.’