ASL has an inventory of generally recognized ASL words using specific handshapes at specific locations, but peoples' actual signs can be quite varied. Just like pace, pitch and pausing in written English, ASLSJ can only hint at how fast something is signed, how many times it is repeated, or what facial / body expressions are used.
ASLSJ breaks ASL words into a sequential pattern for writing. These syllables are in groups separated by a period. Before the period is the initial hand placement. After the period is the movement and possibly the ending hand placement.
Sections:
1) Handshape
2) NonDom-hand* handshape
3) Location
4) Palm facing
5) Touch or Distance
6) Movement
7) Ending handshape or palm facing
8) Repetition 9) Finger spelling 10) Body tilt, eye gaze, head nod / shake, movement speed 1) Handshape
Starting character: _ \ c f l n r Continuing characters: 2 3 f l n r t Ending character: 2 3 4 f l n t Minimum length: 3 characters Uses: It shows the positions of the thumb and fingers on the right-hand
_l4iuqD = mine  _l4 = dominant open-B handshape (four fingers together and flat with palm)(presumed chest height)
 iu = palm facing in toward body qD = move hand onto body (to chest)_l4iuDh^z = happy _l4 = open-B handshape(presumed chest height) D = starting on body (to chest) iu = palm facing in toward body h^ = move hand upz = repeat movement (come back and move again) \f4iuDhv = hungry  \f4 = C handshape(presumed chest height) D = starting on body (to chest) iu = palm facing in toward body hv = move down2) NonDom-hand handshape
Starting character: _ \ c f l n r Continuing characters: 2 3 4 f l n r t Ending character: p Minimum length: 4 characters Uses: It shows the positions of the thumb and fingers on the left hand clnp \fnq<bz = word  cln = nondom-hand 1 handshape (first finger extended flat with palm)p = nondom-hand word  (presumed nondom-hand palm facing opposite of dominant-hand (across body) ) \fn = dominant-hand G handshape (first finger and thumb bent)(presumed chest height)
 (presumed dominant-hand palm facing nondom-side (across body) )q<b = move dominant hand nondom-side (across body) to touch nondom-hand _l4u\p rn4jhvbqvA = help me _l4 = nondom-hand open-B handshape u\ = nondom-hand palm upp = nondom-hand word  rn4 = dominant-hand open-A handshape (all fingers closed to palm, thumb spread out)(presumed chest height)
(presumeb dominant-hand palm facing nondom-side (across body) ) jhvb = starting with dominant-hand touching down on nondom-handqvA = both hands move in _l4iu\p rt4iu\hvbz = money _l4 = nondom-hand open-B handshape iu\ = nondom-hand palm facing upp = nondom-hand word  rt4 = dominant-hand O handshape (four fingers together and bent, first finger touching thumb)(presumed chest height) iu\ = dominant-hand palm facing up hvb = move down to touch nondom-handz = repeat the movement (come back and touch again)
3) Location
Starting character: ( D k w y Continuing characters: h q Ending character: ) ^ < > v Minimum length: 0 characters Uses: Dominant-hand location relative to body cl4yDu\hvz = autumn cl4 = fingerspelled B handshape y = at elbow D = starting on body (on elbow) u\ = palm facing down hv = move hand down z = repeat (come back and move again) _l4wq^z = lecture _l4 = open-B handshape (nondom-hand is not used) w = forehead height (presumed palm facing nondom-side) q^ = move hand out toward audiencez = repeat (come back and move again)
rt4()iuqDz = food rt4 = O handshape (nondom-hand is not used) () = chin / neck heightiu = palm facing in toward body qD = move hand onto body (mouth)z = repeat action (come back and move again) 4) Palm facing
Starting character: i u Continuing characters: g h q u Ending character: \ ^ < > A S v Minimum length: 0 characters Uses: Direction to face the palms and point the fingers or knuckles
_l4uq^ = yours _l4 = open-B handshape(presumed chest height)
 u = palm facing out toward audience q^ = move hand in same direction as palm facing (out)clnq^ = you cln = 1 handshape(presumed chest height) (presumed palm facing nondom side) q^ = move hand out toward audience_f4Aghvq<S = introduce _f4A = nondom-hand matches; dominant hand bent-B handshape ghv = nondom-hand palm opposing; dominant-hand palm nondom side with knuckles turned down q<S = nondom-hand move opposing; dominant-hand move nondom side (toward each other)
5) Touch or Distance
Starting character: j Continuing character: h q Ending character: ^ < > b e r v Minimum length: 0 Uses: dominant-hand relative to nondom-hand
_l4u\Ajh^q^ = enter _l4 = nondom-hand matches; dominant-hand open-B handshape(presumed chest height)
 u\A = nondom-hand matches; dominant-hand palm facing down jh^ = dominant-hand touching up to nondom-hand q^ = move dominant-hand out\fu4u\Ajh^q<gqvz = above  \fu4 = nondom-hand matches; dominant-hand 5 handshapes (four fingers and thumb spread apart flat with palm)(presumed chest height)
u\A = nondom-hand matches; dominant-hand palm facing down jh^ = starting with dominant-hand farther up from nondom-hand q<gqv = move dominant-hand to nondom-side (across body) circling inward (toward body)z = repeat movement (come back and move again) cn4bq^A = continue cn4 = bent-A handshape b = starting with hands touching q^A - both hands move out 6) Movement
Starting character: q h Continuing characters: \ ) Ending character: ~ ^ < > A b D S v Minimum length: 2 Uses: Shows the dominant-hand movement or both hands' movements
rn4Aq^zS = race rn4A = A handshape on both hands (presumed chest height)
(presumed nondom-hand palm dominant-side; dominant-hand palm nondom-side (facing each other) ) q^ = dominant-hand moves out zS = repeat movement with opposing hands (nondom-hand moves and dominant-hand returns) cfnwiuq<)hv = consider cfn = bent-1 handshape w = forehead height iu = palm in q<ghv = move nondom-side (across body) and circle down \f4kq<Dq>\hv = Christ \f4 = C handshape (presumed chest height) (presumed palm-facing non-dom side) kq<D = starting on body nondom-side of chest (across body) q>\hv = move dominant-side angled down
_l4p _lnq<bq> = illegal 4l_ = nondom-hand B handshape qb< = move dominant-hand toward nondom-side to touch nondom-hand q> = move dominant-hand toward dominant-side (undo movement) _lu4qD~ = fancy _lu4 = 5 handshape (default palm facing opposite side) qD = move hand onto body (to chest) ~ = wiggle fingers 7) Ending handshape or palm facing
Starting character: o Continuing characters: handshape or palm facing Minimum length: 3 characters Uses: Shows the fingers bent into a new handshape or the wrist twisted into a new palm facing direction \fu4wiuq^rf4 = out \fu4 = claw-5 handshape w = forehead height iu = palm in q^ = move out rf4 = change to O handshape cln()uo = first cln = 1 handshape () = chin height u = palm facing out o = twist at wrist until palm facing nondom-side (across body)
8) Repetition
Starting character: z Continuing characters: \ h q Ending character: ^ < > v x Uses: Shows the movement occurs more than once in place or along a direction line
_l4u\Sqhvbz = school _l4 = non-dom-hand matches; open-B handshape u\S = nondom-hand palm opposing; dominant-hand palm-down (facing each other) qhvb = move down to touch nondom-hand z = repeat movement (come back and move again) cfnwiuqDx rtl3qvA = decide cfn = bent-1 handshape w = forehead height iu = palm facing in qD = move to touch body x = compound word rtl3 = F handshape (default palm facing opposite side) qvA = both hands move down 9) Finger spelling Starting character: ALL CAPS WORDS or % # Uses: A spelled-out English word using the ASL manual alphabet SOON = English word "soon" -Soon = fingerspell letters S, O, O, N %wD #VP = Vice President % = fingerspelling hand placement indicator w = forehead height D = on body (to forehead) #VP = fingerspell letters V then P 10) Body tilt, eye gaze, head nod / shake, movement speed Starting character: m Continuing character: - c h q Ending character: ^ < > v Description: Describe body language  mq> = looking and signing to the dominant side mq< = looking and signing to the non-dominant sidemq<> = shaking head side to side mh^v = nodding head up and down mcv = move slowly mc^ = move hands fast * The technical terms "Dominant Hand" and "Non-Dominant Hand" for most people mean their right hand and left hand respectively. For Left-handed people, their left hand is their Dominant-hand, and their right hand is their Non-Dominant-hand. I use the abbreviation NonDom for the term Non-Dominant.
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