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Native ASL signers tend to make their signs less stressful on their bodies by avoiding twisting their wrists or using their shoulders. This can make it harder to recognize certain signs. Some people call this "lazy signing," but such compromises are necessary when you use your arms to communicate ideas. A living language undergoes change.
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The majority of ASL words have one or both hands in front of the chest. Though any location within reach is possible to use in conversation, most words are located near the forehead, neck / chin, chest, or elbow.
bcfi-z = know
bc = bent-B handshape
f = forehead heighti = palm in
-z = move hand onto body (to forehead)
vafqdzi-ay = doubt
va = V handshape
f = forehead heightqd = slightly down from height (to eyes)
z = on body (close to eye)
i = palm in
-a = bend fingers
y = repeat action (straighten then bend again)
lanquzsvy = mouse
la = 1 handshape
n = neck / chin height
qu = slightly up from height (to nose)
z = on body (to nose)
s = palm base-side
v = move in palm facing direction (base-side)
y = repeat action (come back then move again)
bcnzsv = lie
bc = bent-B handshape
n = neck / chin heightz = on body (to chin)
s = palm base-side
v = move in palm facing direction (base-side)
benqihivl-bc = in the past
be = open-B handshape
n = neck / chin heightqi = slightly in from height (beside the cheek)
hi = palm in
v = move in palm facing direction (in)
l-bc = change handshape to bent-B
beu-sgi = here
be = open-B handshape
(presumed chest height)
u = palm up
-s = move base-side
gi = move circling in
fars-udy = judge
fa = F handshape
(presumed chest height)
rs = base-hand palm wide-side, wide-hand palm base-side (palms facing)
-ud = base-hand up, wide-hand down (move hands past each other)
y = repeat action
lars-td = correct / right
la = 1 handshape
(presumed chest height)
rs = base-hand palm wide-side, wide-hand palm base-side (palms facing)
-td = touch down onto base-hand
lbzi-s = we / us
lb = bent-1 handshape
(presumed chest height)
z = on body (to chest)
i = palm in
-s = move left
bcquhii-zzq bcnoo-sr = angel
bc = bent-B handshape
(presumed chest height)
qu = slightly up from height (to shoulder)
hii = both palms in
-zz = move both hands onto body (to shoulder)
q = compound word
bc = bent-B handshape
n = neck / chin heightoo = both palms out
-sr = base-hand move base-side, wide-hand move wide-side (move hands apart)
cbqeuhi-z = power
cb = claw-5 handshape
qe = at elbowu = slightly up from height (to upper arm)
hi = palm in
-z = move onto body (to upper arm)
baqezd-dy = autumn / fall
ba = B handshape
qe = at elbowz = on body (to elbow)
d = palm down
-d = move down
y = repeat action
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