To sign "harper", you will fingerspell the word by forming the letters H-A-R-P-E-R. Hold your dominant hand steady at about shoulder height and smoothly transition through each letter. Keep your palm facing outward for most letters, adjusting your hand position naturally for the 'H' and 'P'.
Fingerspell H-A-R-P-E-R smoothly to refer to the proper name Harper.
Use the fingerspelled sequence H-A-R-P-E-R when mentioning the author's first name.
Fingerspell H-A-R-P-E-R to ask about someone with this name, keeping your hand steady.
Fingerspell H-A-R-P-E-R smoothly to refer to the proper name Harper.
Use the fingerspelled sequence H-A-R-P-E-R when mentioning the author's first name.
Fingerspell H-A-R-P-E-R to ask about someone with this name, keeping your hand steady.
No, you should not mouth the individual letters. Instead, you can naturally mouth the whole word "Harper" as you fingerspell it.
Clarity is much more important than speed. Focus on forming each letter clearly and smoothly transitioning between them rather than rushing.
Name signs are uniquely given by Deaf individuals. If the person you are referring to doesn't have a recognized name sign, you should always fingerspell their name.
