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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.
jf4WiUqD = know _f4 = bent-B handshape ![]() iU = palm in qD = move hand onto body (to forehead)
![]() clu2WKhvDiUcfu2z = doubt clu2 = V handshape ![]() WKhv = slightly down from height (to eyes)
![]() D = on body (close to eye)
![]() iU = palm in cfu2 = change to bent-V handshape z = repeat action (straighten then bend again)
clnCKh^Dq<z = mouse cln= 1 handshape
C = neck / chin height
![]() CKh^ = slightly up from height (to nose)
![]() D = on body (to nose)
![]() (presumed palm nondom-side) q< = move in palm facing direction (nondom-side) z = repeat action (come back then move again) cf4CDq< = lie cf4 = bent-B handshape ![]() D = on body (to chin)
![]() (presume palm nondom-side) q< = move toward nondom-side
jl4CiUqvjf4 = in the past jl4 = open-B handshape ![]() iU = palm in qv = move in jf4 = change handshape to bent-B jl4iU\q<)qv = here jl4 = open-B handshape (presumed chest height) iU\ = palm up q<)qv = move nondom-side circling in rfl3AhvzS = judge rfl3 = F handshape A = nondom-handshape matches (presumed chest height) (presumed palms facing across body) hv = nondom-hand up, dominant-hand down (move hands past each other) zS = repeat action switching hands
clnAhvB = correct / right cln = 1 handshape A = nondom-handshape matches (presumed chest height)
(presumed palms facing across body) hvB = touch down onto nondom-hand
cfnDiUq< = we / us cfn = bent-1 handshape (presumed chest height) D = on body (to chest) iU = palm in q< = move left
jf4CKh^iUqDAx jf4Uq>S = angel jf4 = bent-B handshape (presumed chest height) CKh^ = slightly up from height (to shoulder) iU = both palms in qDA = move both hands onto body (to shoulder)
x = compound word jf4 = bent-B handshape (presumed chest height) U = both palms out q>S = nondom-hand move nondom-side, dominant-hand move dominant-side (move hands apart)
yfu4YKh^iUqD = power yfu4 = claw-5 handshape ![]() YKh^ = slightly up from height (to upper arm)
iU = palm in qD = move onto body (to upper arm) cl4YDU\hvz = autumn / fall cl4 = B handshape ![]() D = on body (to elbow)
![]() U\ = palm down hv = move toward palm facing direction z = repeat action
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