Which option is NOT one of the eight changes for lexicalized fingerspelling?

• A. Increase in handshape accuracy
• B. Letters deleted
• C. Change in location
• D. Add 2nd hand

Answer: (D)

When fingerspelling becomes lexicalized, the sequence is streamlined into a single sign by adjusting how it’s produced. You’ll typically see the handshape become more accurate to the conventional sign, letters are often dropped to shorten the sequence, and the location of articulation may shift to match where the sign is normally made. These changes show how the fingerspelled form shifts toward a standard lexical item through coarticulation and conventionalization. Adding a second hand isn’t part of those typical adjustments; lexicalization focuses on modifying the existing movement and articulation of the single-hand fingerspelling to create a recognized sign, rather than introducing an additional hand.