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Handshapes May Change
In the fingerspelled sign #car, the C handshape has the thumb extended and involves principally the index and middle finger, and the R also has the thumb extended. The sign B in the fingerspelled sign #back has the fingers hooked.
Movement May Be Added
Within the Liddell and Johnson framework, a fingerspelled sign begins as individual signs that are symbols for English orthographic symbols. Each sign is basically a hold with a handshape, location, and orientation, and these holds are produced in sequence. When a series of holds are produced in sequence, movements are naturally added in the transition between holds. This is an example of the process of movement epenthesis.
The basic structure of the fingerspelled sign #back is as follows:
#back
| H | H | H | H | |
| Handshape | B | A | C | K |
| Location | sh | sh | sh | sh |
| Orientation | palm out | palm out | palm out | palm out |
However, when a signer produces the holds in sequence, movement is naturally added between the holds. The final structure of the fingerspelled sign could probably be described as H M H.
The addition of movement also may be accompanied by a change in location. For example, in the fingerspelling of #yes, the movement includes a dip in the wrist followed by a pulling back of the S sign; the fingerspelled sign #sale includes a counterclockwise circular movement; the sign #sure involves a movement forward with the R sign and a movement backward with the E sign.
The Orientation May Change
The palm orientation of a sign may change in a fingerspelled English word. For example, in the fingerspelling of #job, the final orientation of the B sign is opposite of its orientation if it were being signed alone; in the sign #ha, the orientation of the A sign goes from palm out to palm up.
There May Be Reduplication of the Movement
If one were to fingerspell the written word ha, there would be a sign H and a sign A. However, there is a fingerspelled sign #ha in which the index and middle finger are moved back and forth repeatedly. The repetition of the movement is called reduplication. Other examples include the signs #no and #do.
The Second Hand May Be Added
The fingerspelled sign #what may be produced on both hands simultaneously as may the sign #back. Sometimes this is done for stylistic reasons, or to show emphasis. Other times it is because the left hand has different meaning from the right hand. This is discussed below.
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